PALMER, MI-- A fire at the Empire mine in Marquette County has been contained.
Jennifer Huetter is a spokesperson for Cliffs Natural Resources. She says the fire broke out just before 6 a.m. Monday on a conveyor belt.
“And it is a limestone feeding system which basically includes equipment and conveyors," she says, "and that’s the way that we get our crushed limestone into the Empire concentrator.”
Empire employees were evacuated from the mine. No injuries were reported.
Officials say the fire was isolated and controlled.
The cause of the fire and the extent of its damage are under investigation. The Empire is shut down for an undetermined amount of time.
Cliffs officials have notified the Mine Safety and Health Administration and United Steelworkers.
