Smoke evacuates Lucky Friday Mine

The Lucky Friday Mine was evacuated Tuesday evening after an employee reported smoke in the underground silver mine. The smoke was reported in the mine’s 4900 level. The fire was out by the time that Hecla Mining Co.’s mine rescue teams and federal inspectors reached the area, said Melanie Hennessey, Hecla’s vice president of investor relations. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No employees were working in the area where the smoke was reported and no one was hurt, she said. The Mullan, Idaho, mine was evacuated as part of safety protocols, Hennessey said. Mining operations were expected to resume this evening, she said.