The changes associated with the cutting roof and release pressure mining method in the three zones that are susceptible to spontaneous combustion in the goaf with “Y” type ventilation system were studied. For the investigated underground coal mine working face, its three zones of spontaneous combustion have a “U” type ventilation system for the traditional mining method and a “Y” type ventilation system for the cutting roof and release pressure mining method. These systems were monitored using a beam tube method, and the evolution characteristics of spontaneous combustion of the three zones was analysed. The monitoring data showed that when using a traditional mining method with a “U” type ventilation system, the scattered tropical zone converts into the oxidation heating zone after 68.5 m in the goaf, and the suffocative zone presents after 85.5 m. For the cutting roof and release pressure mining method together with a “Y” type ventilation system, the scattered tropical zone converts into the oxidation heating zone after 84 m in the goaf, and the suffocative zone appears after 198.8 m. Compared to traditional mining, the width of the oxidation heating zone increases when using the cutting roof and release pressure method. To prevent spontaneous combustion of the goaf, the comprehensive techniques of the pressure balance for fire control, ground fissure sealing, working face sealing, retained roadways guniting and inert gas fire extinguishing have been used in the studied coal mine. The CO concentration of the goaf is less than 300 ppm during the mining process. Safe mining of the tested working face shows that the cutting roof and release pressure technique can be applied to control the coal seam spontaneous combustion.