In the wake of two major industrial fires at Brooklyn in just over three months, 20 industrial sites across Melbourne’s west will be inspected in a bid to lower fire risks.
Staff of the Environment Protection Authority, Metropolitan Fire Brigade and four councils will make unannounced inspections of businesses, including landfill, tyre storage and material recycling operators.
Businesses will be targeted in Altona North, Brooklyn, Laverton North and West Footscray.
Inspections will cover waste stockpiles, firefighting equipment, access for emergency services vehicles and to water supplies, and plans to prevent fires and minimise potential ignition and fuel sources.
On January 26, the western suburbs were cloaked in smoke after a Brooklyn tip caught fire. More than 50 firefighters battled the Bunting Road blaze.
It followed another Brooklyn fire – on October 18 at Sims Metal recycling – that took more than 100 firefighters and 10 hours to control.
EPA chief executive Nial Finegan said the inspections would be undertaken with officers from Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, and Wyndham councils.
“The best way to prevent high-risk industrial fire incidents is to work together to identify risks and then for EPA to work with the operators, the MFB and local council to have those risks addressed,” he said.
MFB chief officer Peter Rau said the inspections aimed to minimise risk to the community and firefighters.
“We’ll work with facility owners and operators to minimise and eliminate factors that may pose a threat to both firefighter and community safety,” he said.
