Authorities monitor chemical fire at concrete factory
Posted
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has been called in to monitor a chemical fire at Keysborough in Melbourne's south-east.
A concrete manufacturing factory on Fiveways Boulevard caught fire about 5am AEST.
The CFA's Trevor Owen says the factory contained chemical supplies and the EPA is worried about smoke and contaminated water run-off.
"It's quite a large fire and quite a complex fire in the sense that it's got a number of dangerous chemicals that we are dealing with at this point in time," he said.
"We will investigate it once the fire has been extinguished and then we will get in later today, or tomorrow morning."
Firefighters say the blaze has caused more than $3 million damage.
Mr Owen says more than 70 firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
He says chemicals in the factory produced a lot of smoke.
"There is a fair bit to still take under control and we'll be here for a number of hours yet, throughout the day," he said.
"We're also advising people, nearby residents, to actually stay indoors and with their doors and windows closed at this point in time - at least for the duration of the morning."
