2019 Campbellfield factory fire
| Date | 5 April 2019 |
|---|---|
| Time | 06:40 AEST |
| Location | Campbellfield, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°38′45″S 144°56′28″E / 37.645925°S 144.9410784°E |
| Cause | Unknown |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 2 (both serious) |
The 2019 Campbellfield factory fire was a major industrial fire that began in Campbellfield, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on 5 April 2019. The size of the fire site was about 5,000 square metres (53,819.55 sq ft), and it emitted toxic smoke across the city's northern suburbs.[1] The fire was finally extinguished four days after it started.[2]
The company which operated the property where the fire took place, Bradbury Industrial Services, collapsed in July 2019, leaving taxpayers to potentially foot a multimillion-dollar clean-up bill.[3] On 1 August 2019, the administrators for the company were given three months to clean up the site.[4]
Background[edit]
The fire occurred at a waste management factory owned by Bradbury Industrial Services on Thornycroft St at 6:40 am.[5] Buildings and vehicles were turned into fireballs and chemical drums sent soaring high above the warehouse as the inferno raged for hours. A witness in a nearby suburb to the fire said he saw a "massive explosion that looked like a mushroom cloud".[1] Two other fires had broken out in the facility previously.[6]
Bradbury Industrial Services provides storage and disposal services for hazardous and industrial waste, and specialises in treating solvent and other waste from paint and related industries.[7]
Fire[edit]
Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters brought the blaze under control by midday on 5 April; however, the fire was not fully extinguished until four days later.[2] About thirty people were believed to have escaped the building before the firefighters arrived. At least two factory workers were hospitalised as a result of severe burns from the fire, with one employee receiving an eye injury.
The fire was initially contained within four hours by 175 firefighters.[8] Fire crews remain at the scene, using heat-detection devices to continually identify and dampen-down hotspots.[6][9] The fire forced the closure of nearby schools and businesses. Some residents fled their homes to escape toxic fumes.[10]
A number of schools and kindergartens in proximity to the fire were closed as of 7 April including:[11]
- Dallas Brooks Community Primary School in Dallas
- Coolaroo South Primary School in Coolaroo
- Broadmeadows Primary School in Broadmeadows
- Hume Central Secondary College in Broadmeadows
- Meadows Primary School in Broadmeadows
- Hume Valley School in Dallas
- St Thomas More Primary School in Hadfield
- Ilim College in Broadmeadows
- Holy Child Primary School in Dallas
- St Dominic's Primary School in Broadmeadows
- Corpus Christi School in Glenroy
Investigations[edit]
Investigations into the cause of the fire were started on 9 April, involving police, fire investigators from the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade, WorkSafe Victoria, and the Victorian Coroner.[2] Initial speculations focused on the illegal or improper storage of flammable chemical waste.[5]
The fire began less than one day after Victorian Environment Protection Authority authorities inspected the factory, and fifteen days[8] after the factory had its license revoked for storing three times[12] as much waste as it was permitted.[13] EPA's inspection on 4 April discovered 300,000 litres of chemicals inside.[14]
EPA executive director Damian Wells said the factory contained "highly flammable materials".[5]
EPA has begun an independent review into its systems and processes for dealing with toxic waste.
Legal pursuit[edit]
On 23 June 2023, the court hearing occurred at the County Court of Victoria. Bradbury Industrial Services received a fine of $2.9 million.[15] Due to the company being in liquidation, the fine won't be paid.[16]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Melbourne factory fire may burn for days, as authorities reveal site had licence suspended". The New Daily. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ a b c Koob, Simone Fox (9 April 2019). "Arson squad to probe warehouse blaze after fireys finally put it out". The Age. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- ^ Company behind Campbellfield fire collapses, taxpayers could foot bill
- ^ "EPA sets deadline on Campbellfield chemical waste cleanup". The Age. 1 August 2019. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "Toxic fire finally contained at waste factory". 9news.com.au. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Cambellfield Fire Cleanup at Bradbury Industrial Services". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ Dunstan, Joseph; Rizmal, Zalika (5 April 2019). "Melbourne chemical blaze under control, but likely to burn for days". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Campbellfield fire hazard was known before massive blaze". Star Weekly. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ Koob, Chris Vedelago, Sumeyya Ilanbey, Simone Fox (5 April 2019). "Campbellfield toxic fire: Warehouse operator linked to four other chemical stockpiles". The Age. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Fowler, Matilda Boseley, Goya Dmytryshchak, Michael (7 April 2019). "'Toxic rainbow' after Campbellfield factory fire fuels residents' fears". The Age. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Campbellfield fire: List of schools, kinders, childcare centres closed due to smoke". News.com.au. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ Turbet, Hanna Mills (5 April 2019). "Massive Campbellfield fire at factory where chemicals stored causes toxic smoke plumes". The Age. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Melbourne factory fire in Campbellfield: Bradbury Industrial ablaze as warnings issued for Broadmeadows, Coburg, Pascoe Vale". News.com.au. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Burning factory had three times as many chemicals as allowed, EPA says". The Age. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "$2.9 million fine for chemical fire and stockpiles". WorkSafe Victoria. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Pearson, Erin (23 June 2023). "$3m fine won't be paid: Toxic waste firm caused catastrophic fire but can't pay penalty". The Age. Retrieved 12 March 2024.