Abstract: Spontaneous combustion of residual coal in goaf is an important disaster in coal mine. In order to explore the distribution law of "three zones" of spontaneous combustion, the 5203 fully mechanized caving face in Gaojiayao Coal Mine was taken as the research object. By means of laboratory measurement of coal related natural ignition characteristic parameters, on-site arrangement of temperature and gas acquisition systems on both sides of headentry and return airway, Fluent simulation of air flow velocity in goaf, etc., the "three zones" of 5203 working face were divided. The results show that the range of "three zones" based on temperature is similar to that of oxygen concentration. The width of heat dissipation zone divided by oxygen concentration is 17.0 m to 21.2 m, the width of spontaneous combustion zone is 66.7 m to 74.6 m, and the width of asphyxia zone is more than 83.7 m to 95.8 m. The width of heat dissipation zone simulated by Fluent is 18 m to 22 m and the width of spontaneous combustion zone is 64 m to 73 m. The simulation results are similar to the measured "three zones" of spontaneous combustion. Combined with the shortest spontaneous combustion period of No.5 coal seam, the minimum advancing speed of the working face is calculated to provide guarantee for mine safety production.