Nitrogen is widely used in combating underground fires, first of all in France, Germany, Ukraine and India. Because of the inactivating properties of Nitrogen, this was used throughout the world mining history for the following purposes: elimination of explosion hazard, reduction of fire range and fire intensity, chilling fire workings.
Inactivating by means of Nitrogen was first applied among others in the following causes: longwall mining both advancing and retreating; fire outbreak in workings with circulating ventilation; fighting fires in workings with the auxiliary ventilation; reducing the fire range and eliminating the seat of fire.