Cobar Shaft Fire 1980
Three miners were incinerated in the cage in the mine shaft whilst removing old concrete delivery pipes. It is believed that hot metal, slag or sparks ignited flammable material below. The fire sent flames up the walls of the shaft fed by hydraulic oil or diesel fuel which had spilt from galvanised pipes in the shaft. The fire was further fuelled by the acetylene they were carrying for their work.
This accident claimed the lives of 3 people, these were: Christopher McInerney, Michael Botten, Norman Armstrong