Abstract <p>Reducing the hazard of sudden rock and gas outbursts in coal seams is one of the key problems of geodynamic safety of mining. The paper presents a mathematical model of hydraulic fracturing of roof rocks as one of the key methods for reducing the outburst hazard. Structural features of the working area are studied by means of an example of the host rock strata of seam 3 of the Alardinskaya mine of the Kondomskoye field of the Kuznetsk coal basin. Three-dimensional finite difference analysis and continuum damage mechanics are used to study the influence of the well spacing on the formation of an effective crack network in the hard-to-cave roof during hydraulic fracturing. It is shown that changing the initial well spacing affects not only the formation time of an effective crack network but also the spacing between damage accumulation zones. Hydraulic fracturing of roof rocks from the working face effectively reduces the abutment stress and outburst hazard.</p>