2019 Campbellfield factory fire
{{Short description|Major industrial fire in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date = April 2019}}
{{Infobox event
| time = 06:40 AEST
| date = 5 April 2019
| reported deaths = 0
| reported injuries = 2 (both serious)
| location = Campbellfield, Victoria, Australia
| cause = Unknown
| coordinates = {{coord|-37.645925|144.9410784|display=inline}}
}}
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 {{convert|5000|m2|sqft|2|abbr=}}, and it emitted toxic smoke across the city's northern suburbs. The fire was finally extinguished four days after it started.{{cite news |last1=Koob |first1=Simone Fox |title=Arson squad to probe warehouse blaze after fireys finally put it out |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/arson-squad-to-probe-warehouse-blaze-after-fireys-finally-put-it-out-20190409-p51cdr.html |access-date=10 April 2019 |work=The Age |date=9 April 2019}}
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.[https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/company-behind-campbellfield-fire-collapses-taxpayers-could-foot-bill-20190710-p525x3.html Company behind Campbellfield fire collapses, taxpayers could foot bill] On 1 August 2019, the administrators for the company were given three months to clean up the site.{{cite web |title=EPA sets deadline on Campbellfield chemical waste cleanup |date=1 August 2019 |website=The Age |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603104057/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/epa-sets-deadline-on-campbellfield-chemical-waste-cleanup-20190801-p52d0i.html |archive-date=3 June 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/epa-sets-deadline-on-campbellfield-chemical-waste-cleanup-20190801-p52d0i.html}}
Background
The fire occurred at a waste management factory owned by Bradbury Industrial Services on Thornycroft St at 6:40 am.{{Cite web |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-news-campbellfield-factory-fire/5254a86d-a79d-4e2c-abc2-d01e7fb335fa|title=Toxic fire finally contained at waste factory|publisher= 9news.com.au|access-date=2019-04-07}} 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".{{Cite web|url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2019/04/05/melbourne-factory-fire-2/|title=Melbourne factory fire may burn for days, as authorities reveal site had licence suspended|date=2019-04-04|website=The New Daily|access-date=2019-04-07}} Two other fires had broken out in the facility previously.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-06/campbellfield-fire-cleanup-at-bradbury-industrial-services/10978848|title=Cambellfield Fire Cleanup at Bradbury Industrial Services|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=2019-04-07}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-05/campbellfield-factory-fire-sends-smoke-over-melbournes-north/10973650|title=Melbourne chemical blaze under control, but likely to burn for days|last=Dunstan|first=Joseph|last2=Rizmal|first2=Zalika|date=2019-04-05|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=2019-04-07}}
Fire
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. 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.starweekly.com.au/news/campbellfield-fire-hazard-was-known/|title=Campbellfield fire hazard was known before massive blaze|date=2019-04-08|website=Star Weekly|access-date=2019-04-08}} Fire crews remain at the scene, using heat-detection devices to continually identify and dampen-down hotspots.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/campbellfield-toxic-fire-warehouse-operator-linked-to-four-other-chemical-stockpiles-20190405-p51bdd.html|title=Campbellfield toxic fire: Warehouse operator linked to four other chemical stockpiles|last=Koob|first=Chris Vedelago, Sumeyya Ilanbey, Simone Fox|date=2019-04-05|website=The Age|access-date=2019-04-07}} The fire forced the closure of nearby schools and businesses. Some residents fled their homes to escape toxic fumes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/toxic-rainbow-after-campbellfield-factory-fire-fuels-residents-fears-20190407-p51bmz.html|title='Toxic rainbow' after Campbellfield factory fire fuels residents' fears|last=Fowler|first=Matilda Boseley, Goya Dmytryshchak, Michael|date=2019-04-07|website=The Age|access-date=2019-04-07}}
A number of schools and kindergartens in proximity to the fire were closed as of 7 April including:{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/campbellfield-factory-fire-list-of-schools-and-kindergartens-that-are-closed-today/news-story/399dfead93feb3e894daee1ea949288a|title=Campbellfield fire: List of schools, kinders, childcare centres closed due to smoke|publisher=News.com.au|access-date=2019-04-07}}
- 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
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.
Initial speculations focused on the illegal or improper storage of flammable chemical waste.
The fire began less than one day after Victorian Environment Protection Authority authorities inspected the factory, and fifteen days after the factory had its license revoked for storing three times{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-express-friday-april-5-2019-20190404-p51aq0.html|title=Massive Campbellfield fire at factory where chemicals stored causes toxic smoke plumes|last=Turbet|first=Hanna Mills|date=2019-04-05|website=The Age|access-date=2019-04-07}} as much waste as it was permitted.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/factory-fire-residents-hear-sounds-of-small-explosions-as-large-blaze-tears-through-factory-in-melbournes-north/news-story/8b5073153ed43f52976825d024ccd58b|title=Melbourne factory fire in Campbellfield: Bradbury Industrial ablaze as warnings issued for Broadmeadows, Coburg, Pascoe Vale|publisher=News.com.au|access-date=2019-04-07}} EPA's inspection on 4 April discovered 300,000 litres of chemicals inside.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/burning-factory-had-three-times-as-many-chemicals-as-allowed-epa-says-20190405-p51b9g.html|title=Burning factory had three times as many chemicals as allowed, EPA says|date=2019-04-05|work=The Age|access-date=2019-04-07}}
EPA executive director Damian Wells said the factory contained "highly flammable materials".
EPA has begun an independent review into its systems and processes for dealing with toxic waste.
Legal pursuit
On 23 June 2023, the court hearing occurred at the County Court of Victoria. Bradbury Industrial Services received a fine of $2.9 million.{{Cite web |title=$2.9 million fine for chemical fire and stockpiles |url=https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2023-06/29-million-fine-chemical-fire-and-stockpiles |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=WorkSafe Victoria}} Due to the company being in liquidation, the fine won't be paid.{{Cite web |last=Pearson |first=Erin |date=2023-06-23 |title=$3m fine won’t be paid: Toxic waste firm caused catastrophic fire but can’t pay penalty |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/3m-fine-won-t-be-paid-toxic-waste-firm-caused-catastrophic-fire-but-can-t-pay-penalty-20230622-p5dirj.html |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=The Age}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbellfield factory fire, 2019}}
Category:2019 disasters in Australia
Category:Industrial fires and explosions in Australia
Category:2019 in Victoria (state)
Category:2010s fires in Oceania
Category:Disasters in Victoria (state)
Category:Building and structure fires in Australia