A fire has rocked Stillwater Mining's platinum operations near Nye, in Canada, causing the evacuation of the entire plant's staff.

An ore truck caught fire while underground, triggering an evacuation procedure which saw several hundred mine workers evacuated from the site as rescue workers fought to bring the fire under control.

John Beaudry, public affairs manager for Stillwater, told the Helena International Record that a hydraulic fluid leak in the truck is believed to have sparked the fire, but an investigation is underway to fully determine its cause.

Although the fire lasted only 30 minutes, it is not yet clear how much damage has been caused, nor how long the mine will be out of operation.

In August, Stillwater announced a second quarter net loss of $0.6 million, compared to net income of $13.5 million for the same period in 2004.

This latest setback could potentially have a further impact on the company's earnings over the course of the year.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd