Locals grapple with toxic run off and fumes after blaze
The toxic fall-out from Melbourne’s massive factory fire could take days to understand and manage. While the blaze has been contained the runoff into waterways as well as the fumes and smoke remain a hazard for residents and front-line workers.
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00:00Hundreds of blackened drums and a collapsed, smouldering roof.
00:06All that's left of a 7,000 square metre chemical factory.
00:11The cause remains unknown.
00:13There's a large number of people that we need to talk to to ascertain the events leading
00:17up to the incident yesterday and that is going to take some time.
00:21The blaze started on Wednesday morning and quickly turned into an inferno.
00:26Fire Rescue Victoria saying it's the largest emergency it's fought in years.
00:31Today traffic remained at a standstill as firefighters continued suppressing the flames.
00:37The ACB Group factory in Derrimut is close to several neighbourhoods and industrial zones.
00:42People in surrounding suburbs were told this morning to keep doors and windows shut to
00:47keep toxic smoke out.
00:49That warning has since been lifted but people are still advised to avoid the area if they
00:53can.
00:55The factory owners were already under investigation over a fire last year that killed a 44-year-old
01:01man.
01:02The EPA says since then it carried out nine inspections and issued two notices.
01:07And WorkSafe made 24 visits and issued seven compliance notices.
01:13If there's been that level of concern and supervision by the EPA, how did this happen?
01:19What went wrong?
01:20We do have real concern about the toothless tiger nature of the EPA.
01:25More than three million litres of water and 40,000 litres of foam have been used to battle
01:31the inferno.
01:32We're now currently managing the water runoff, so the contaminated water as a result of the
01:37firefighting efforts but also the contaminants from the building that has been burnt.
01:43Melbourne Water pushing up warning signs and the EPA monitoring creeks, rivers and even
01:49walkways for contamination.
01:51This path given the all clear.
01:53EPA officers are continuing to test the area surrounding the fire site and people are being
01:59warned not to go near local waterways which could be contaminated with runoff from the
02:03factory.
02:04Like here where white firefighter foam is quickly making its way down Laverton Creek.
02:09Booms have been installed to trap toxic runoff but with the fire still active it could be
02:15days until the full extent of the pollution is known.
02:19For more UN videos visit www.un.org