At 1:09am, crews from Longwarry and Bunyip Fire brigades responded to a factory fire at the Longwarry Food Park, which produces milk powder, "Gippy Milk" and other milk based products.
On arrival the crew from Longwarry Tanker 1 was met by staff from the factory who stated that all the staff had been accounted for and were out of the building. They were also met with the sight of flames coming from the flue of the large tower that dominates the town's skyline, making it look like a giant candle. Flames were coming from the side of the tower also where the dust explosion, caused by the fine milk powder, had blown out a section of the wall.
Immediately the call was made for an aerial appliance to help combat the structure from above, an extra pumper to feed water to the Aerial appliance, a Breathing Apparatus van for the protracted internal attack that lay ahead and a Big Fill to utilise the large dam adjacent to the factory grounds.
The fire was contained in large to the main dryer, a large stainless steel vat like structure, located within the factory's tower and stretching almost the height of the tower itself. B.A crews entering the tower were met with intense heat coming from the stainless steel dryer and piping acting like a boiler. They managed to isolate the tower from the bagging room, where the final product is bagged and stored, protecting the initial exposures and containing the damage.
Ongoing renovations at the factory made use of the internal fire-fighting aids and supply of water difficult. The water company was contacted in an effort to boost supply to the factory during the fire-fight.
Once on scene the Aerial appliance managed to knock down the intensity of the fire dramatically and cool the dryer and associated pipe work, enabling ground crews to inspect the dryer closely through hatches. B.A crews using a Thermal Imaging Camera and handlines were assisted by management in the overhaul of the incident rendering it safe that morning.
OIC, Longwarry Captain, Ian STERK said the crews handled the tasks very well. The incident was quite a stable situation once the exposures were isolated and the work of the Aerial Appliance was just fantastic in controlling the situation quickly.
The catering unit from Longwarry was also called into action to feed the crews who had worked hard in intense heat throughout the morning.
Appliances on scene were: Longwarry Tanker 1, Tanker 2, MCV and catering, Bunyip Pumper-Tanker, Drouin Pumper and Car, Nilma North Bigfill, Dandenong Platform and Traralgon B.A Van.
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