Pike River: Extreme heat delays firefighters

The concrete around the coal mine's vent shaft has heated up to 150C. Photo / NZ Police

Firefighters were last night battling to cool the extremely hot concrete pad around the Pike River mine vent shaft so they could work on extinguishing the fire in the mine.

The pad surrounding the vent has reached 150C - making it impossible for firefighters to get to the fire in the mine below.

To extinguish the fire, water needed to be pumped from a nearby creek to a holding tank above the vent, so it could be poured on to the vent and pad.

Superintendent Gary Knowles said the vent needs to be capped to increase the efficiency of the Gorniczy Agregat Gasniczy machine.

It is hoped the GAG unit from Australia will extinguish the fires in the mine by using water vapour. Once the fires are extinguished, it is hoped the bodies of the 29 miners will be be recovered.

Mr Knowles said the only access to the vent was by helicopter or foot and neitherwas an option until temperatures dropped to a safe 65C.

"A metal cap has been built [to block the vent] but we can't safely get a helicopter above the vent to lower the cap down because of the flames and heat.

"The terrain is extremely challenging and all the equipment has to be airlifted into place," he said.

He said he did not know how long it would take to cool the pads and put out the fire but work had begun last night.

"However, I stress that even if we are able to reduce the heat at the vent this does not in itself mean the heat or fire inside the mine will be reduced."