Six workers were injured at a coal mine southeast of Sulphur Springs when they were covered in hot ash and burning debris on Aug. 14. The incident occurred at the Thermo Mine, which is operated by Luminant Mining.
The employees suffered burns on their hands and legs. They were given immediate treatment at the scene and then transported by Hopkins County EMS to Hopkins County Memorial Hospital in Sulphur Springs. One worker was then airlifted to Parkland Hospital, while four were taken to Parkland by ambulance and one was released. Tyler-based KLTV reports that one of the workers at Parkland is listed in critical condition.
The incident occurred near a coal storage silo. Federal safety agency investigators have been at the scene and are collecting information about the incident.
Thermo Mine is about three miles southeast of Sulphur Springs and produces lignite, sometimes called brown coal. Luminant Mining is a subsidiary of Dallas-based Energy Future Holdings Corp.