Authorities caution that investigations into factory fire may take longer than anticipated

Authorities are still investigating the cause of a significant chemical factory fire in Melbourne that released potentially harmful pollutants into local waterways.

The blaze at a Derrimut factory in Melbourne’s west on July 10 was the city’s largest industrial fire in years, causing explosions that propelled chemical drums into the air.

No injuries were reported, but over 180 firefighters spent four hours battling the fire before getting it under control.

As of July 12, several hotspots were still smouldering, and fire crews were waiting for the site to be demolished before fully extinguishing the blaze.

Deputy Commissioner Josh Fischer of Fire Rescue Victoria stated on July 12 that it was too early to determine the cause of the initial blast, although foul play was not suspected.

He mentioned, “We are following up on leads and interviewing individuals.”

Mr. Fischer indicated that authorities would be on-site for several days, if not weeks.

The fire was fueled by drums containing kerosene, methylated spirits, methanol, and other substances stored at the location.

Another fire incident in October at the same building, housing ACB Group and Powerplus, resulted in the death of one worker and injuries to two others.

The Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria issued two notices to the site, later confirming its compliance after nine inspections following the first explosion, while WorkSafe conducted 24 visits and issued seven notices.

Investigations into the 2023 fire are ongoing, according to Steve Lansdell of the environmental authority.

He mentioned, “The investigations will continue beyond the site being handed back.”

Authorities used over three million liters of water and 40,000 liters of foam to combat the massive flames.

The focus now is managing the community and environmental impacts of firewater runoff entering nearby waterways.

Residents have been advised to steer clear of specific water bodies, and real-time water sensors have been installed at critical points.

Monitoring is ongoing, with efforts to prevent further contamination and assess any environmental impacts.

Authorities have taken steps to control the spread of contamination and are closely monitoring the situation.

It may take weeks or months for the affected waterways to fully recover due to the diverse range of toxic substances released during the incident.

Chemical storage sites pose risks of pollution with substances like PFAS and heavy metals, which can have long-lasting harmful effects on the environment and human health.

A previous incident in 2018 in a chemical factory had significant impacts downstream due to the presence of PFAS chemicals.