Dozens of miners due in Illinois for skills competition

HARRISBURG, Ill. (AP) - A college in southern Illinois will host more than 100 coal miners from around the region for a rescue skills competition next month.

The coal miners will compete in the fifth annual Mine Rescue Skills Competition on June 7 and 8 at Southeastern Illinois University in Harrisburg. Organizers say the event is a chance for miners to get more practice and learn in a safe, competitive environment. The event attracts miners from Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

Miners regularly train to prepare for events like fires, cave-ins and other underground disasters.

Some of the competitions include equipment use, search and rescue and fire suppression. Trophies are awarded each day to the top three teams. Volunteers serve as judges.

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Online: http://www.sic.edu/miningcompetition