Watch-and-act warning issued after chemical explosion triggers factory blaze

The fire reached a seventh-alarm level. Since Fire Rescue Victoria was created four years ago, it has not previously had to battle a fire higher than a fifth-alarm level.

WorkSafe was on the scene on Wednesday and is still investigating after the deadly fire at the chemical manufacturing plant last October. Fire Rescue Victoria said Victoria Police would also investigate the cause of Wednesday’s fire.

A watch-and-act warning was issued shortly after 1pm on Wednesday in Derrimut and the neighbouring suburbs of Albion, Braybrook, Brooklyn, Laverton North, Sunshine, Sunshine West, Tottenham and Truganina.

The warning zone was reduced to the Derrimut industrial estate shortly before 4pm. For suburbs south of the blaze, such as Laverton, it was downgraded to an advice message around the same time. For others to the north, emergency alerts were removed altogether.

Residents near the fire were told to stay out of the smoke and keep windows and doors closed to avoid the toxic burned chemicals. They were also urged to close vents in their homes and ensure heating and cooling systems are turned off.

A wind change blew the toxic smoke toward Boundary Road and Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Anyone affected is urged to take shelter indoors immediately.

Ambulance Victoria said paramedics arrived about 11.15am, but no-one required treatment.

The surrounding industrial estate was evacuated by police along Swann Drive to Bliss Court. The Environment Protection Authority of Victoria also attended the scene.

A plume of black smoke could be seen across Melbourne and a wall at the rear of the factory collapsed early on Wednesday afternoon. Tanks containing flammable substances exploded and a b-double truck was damaged.

About midday, fireballs continued to erupt from the inferno near the Western Ring Road while crews tried to douse the flames. Spot fires appeared to break out on the nature strip on the southern edge of the major freeway about 1pm while vehicles drove just metres away.

A specialised truck arrived about 2pm and doused the flames with white foam.

Footage from a news helicopter showed several vehicles parked on the side of the Western Freeway close to the fire. About 1pm, cars could still be seen joining westbound Deer Park bypass traffic via an entry ramp from the Western Ring Road.

The Western Freeway was closed in both directions shortly before 1.30pm. The inbound closure was from Ballarat Road to the M80 Ring Road, while the outbound closure is from the M80 Ring Road to Robinsons Road.

People have been urged to avoid the industrial estate south of the Western Freeway, while motorists in smoke-affected areas were told to keep their windows up and car ventilation on recirculate mode.

FRV Deputy Commissioner Cowling praised the efforts of emergency services late on Wednesday.

“It has been a huge fire and Fire Rescue Victoria firefighters have done an amazing job, relying on their training and professionalism to bring this fire under control in such as short amount of time.”