Melbourne recycling plant fire: Dallas homes evacuated as smoke poses health threat

Residents of more than 100 homes in Melbourne’s north are advised to evacuate as a fire continues to burn at a recycling plant, producing hazardous smoke.

More than 40 people attended a relief centre at a local swimming pool overnight, after police doorknocked 120 homes in neighbouring Dallas when the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) detected a deterioration in air quality.

About nine people were treated by ambulance crews for breathing difficulties, and two men were taken to hospital in a stable condition.

The fire broke out about 9:00am on Thursday, sending smoke billowing across Melbourne’s north and west, and ash onto properties more than 15 kilometres away.

MFB Commander Brendan Angwin said it was continuing to burn through thousands of tonnes of plastics, cardboard and paper.

He said it was a difficult fire to extinguish and was likely to continue burning “for at least another couple of days”.

“There are huge volumes of fuel in there burning. It is extremely difficult to gain access to the fire. We’re really concerned for firefighter safety,” he said.

Victorian MP for Broadmeadows Frank McGuire said some of the mounds of rubbish were four to five metres high.

Source: Coolaroo recycling plant fire: Dallas homes evacuated as smoke poses health threat – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)