Toxic smoke will continue to blow across Melbourne’s west for days after a chemical explosion sparked a massive factory fire that launched drums into the air and forced residents out of their homes.
More than 180 firefighters battled the blaze on Swann Drive in Derrimut after it broke out just before 11.20am on Wednesday. It’s in the same area in which a man was killed in another chemical fire last year.
Michelle Cowling from Fire Rescue Victoria said there was a danger to residents and firefighters as the so-called “seven-alarm” fire drew in 66 appliances to fight it.
“The warehouse itself is full with multiple types of chemicals and those drums are being impinged by fire, so they are exploding and, therefore, they launch into the air and land outside of the fire perimeter,” she said.
“So that’s why we’re encouraging people to stay away.”
A B-double truck was also affected as the factory continued to burn.
FRV deemed the blaze officially under control at 3.32pm on Wednesday.
“We estimate we’re going to be here a couple of days because of the fuel load in this factory,” Cowling said.
She said it would take time to get close enough to the burning chemicals to put them out and make sure the site was safe.
“We can’t get in close enough to cool this fire down. It will have to be pulled apart and gone through and make sure everything is out. We’ve got lots of water run-off so that has to be drained,” she said.
Last October, a man was killed and two others were injured after an explosion and industrial fire “in the vicinity” of the chemical manufacturing plant, and WorkSafe was on site, Fire Rescue Victoria said.
A watch-and-act warning was issued shortly after 1pm on Wednesday in Derrimut and the neighbouring suburbs of Albion, Braybrook, Brooklyn, Laverton North, Sunshine, Sunshine West, Tottenham and Truganina.
Residents in surrounding areas were told to stay out of the smoke and keep windows and doors closed to avoid the toxic burned chemicals. They were also urged to close vents in their homes and ensure heating and cooling systems are turned off. Residents not currently at home have been told not to return.
The toxic smoke is also being blown across to Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Anyone affected is urged to take shelter indoors immediately.
Ambulance Victoria said paramedics arrived about 11.15am. No patients have been treated so far.
A view of the toxic smoke plume blowing east from Melbourne’s western suburbs.Credit: Nine News
The surrounding industrial estate is also being evacuated by police along Swann Drive to Bliss Court. The Environment Protection Authority Victoria will also attend the scene.
A plume of black smoke could be seen across Melbourne and a wall at the rear of the factory collapsed early on Wednesday afternoon. Tanks containing flammable substances exploded, and a barrel was sent flying into the air before crashing back to the ground.
About midday, fireballs continued to erupt from the inferno near the Western Ring Road while crews tried to douse the flames. Spot fires appeared to break out on the nature strip on the southern edge of the major freeway about 1pm.
A specialised truck arrived about 2pm and doused the flames with white foam.
A Fire Rescue Victoria spokeswoman said the fire reached a seventh-alarm level. Since the agency was created four years ago, it has never battled a fire higher than a fifth-alarm level.
Footage from a news helicopter showed several vehicles parked on the side of the Western Freeway close to the fire. About 1pm, cars could still be seen joining westbound Deer Park bypass traffic via an entry ramp from the Western Ring Road.
The Western Freeway was closed in both directions shortly before 1.30pm. The inbound closure is from Ballarat Road to the M80 Ring Road, while the outbound closure is from the M80 Ring Road to Robinsons Road. Motorists have been told to use Ballarat Road or Fitzgerald Road to connect with the M80 Ring Road.
People have been urged to avoid the industrial estate south of the Western Freeway, while motorists in smoke-affected areas were told to keep their windows up and car ventilation on recirculate mode.
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2024-07-10 02:30:13Z
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