On 26th. September 1950, a fire broke out and 80 men were killed. The fire was started at No. 2 transfer point, when a conveyor belt jammed. The belt rollers probably continued to rotate and friction on the conveyor belting produced enough heat to propagate the fire. Flames swept through the 12' by 10' roadway trapping the men behind a "wall of flame".
Most of the victims probably suffocated due to the poisonous fumes created by the fire.
Rescue efforts were started, and teams from all over Derbyshire rushed to the Pit.
Within eight hours a notice was posted at the pit head stating that any rescue of the trapped men was impossible.
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