Chemical incidents in 1995

January

Oil fire at Mobil. MFB believes it was caused by a pressure surge. Eighty firefighters and 20 trucks fought the blaze after evacuating about 20 Mobil employees. (source: Channel 7 news & Footscray Mail, 25-1-95)

"

Fire crews put out a Briquette fire at the corner of Whitehall st and Sommerville Road, Yarraville. In similar fires on December 28 and January 3 at the Bradmill depot in Francis Street, Yarraville, firefighters emptied hoppers of water onto smouldering briquettes. (source, Footscray Mail, 25-1-95)

February

Industrial emission from Mobil oil Yarraville terminals pollutes air with a foul smell for four days, following the accidental heating of a petrochemical additive at the plant to 85 degrees. The stench was similar to hot tar. It contained hydrocarbons from oil and hydrogen sulphide or rotten egg gas. The EPA sent two officers to investigate. They traced the smell to Mobil. It took until Monday to locate its source on site. By the time, it was removed on Tuesday, the EPA had more than 12O complaints from as far away as Essendon. The EPA chairman, Brian Robinson, criticized delays by the company in identifying the source of the pollution. The EPA is considering prosecution. (Source: Sunday Age, 19 February, 1995)

"

Gas leak in Francis street. (Source: Sunday Age, 19 February, 1995)

"

A shell tanker, carrying 7000 litres of diesel fuel and 35,000 litres of petrol, rolls in Batman Avenue, bursting into flame. The explosion caused when leaking petrol ignited, damaged the nearby Entertainment Centre and burnt street signs and trees. (Source: Sunday Age, 12 March, 1995)

"

20,000 litres of lexane, a weak smelling solvent, seeped from an underground pipe from Mobil's Spotswood Terminal. An EPA spokesperson said 10,500 litres was recovered after it flowed into a concrete pit at the Simcock Avenue site. The remaining 9,500 litres escaped and the EPA has taken samples to find out the the extent of contamination to soil and underground water sources. (Source: Western Times, 22-3-1995)

March

Chemical accident involving a Blue Gem Transport truck of South Melbourne on the corner of Hopkins and Whitehall street. Four 200 litre drums of sodium hydroxide more commonly known as caustic soda, fell from the truck and 100 litres was spilt. It flowed into a nearby drain which the fire brigade flushed with 3000 litres of water to dilute the chemical. (Source: Western Times, 22-3-1995)

"

Chemical accident involving a Blue Gem Transport truck of South Melbourne on the corner of Hopkins and Whitehall street. Four 200 litre drums of sodium hydroxide more commonly known as caustic soda, fell from the truck and 100 litres was spilt. It flowed into a nearby drain which the fire brigade flushed with 3000 litres of water to dilute the chemical. (Source: Western Times, 22-3-1995)

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January	Oil fire at Mobil. MFB believes it was caused by a pressure surge. Eighty firefighters and 20 trucks fought the blaze after evacuating about 20 Mobil employees. (source: Channel 7 news & Footscray Mail, 25-1-95)
"	Fire crews put out a Briquette fire at the corner of Whitehall st and Sommerville Road, Yarraville. In similar fires on December 28 and January 3 at the Bradmill depot in Francis Street, Yarraville, firefighters emptied hoppers of water onto smouldering briquettes. (source, Footscray Mail, 25-1-95)
February	Industrial emission from Mobil oil Yarraville terminals pollutes air with a foul smell for four days, following the accidental heating of a petrochemical additive at the plant to 85 degrees. The stench was similar to hot tar. It contained hydrocarbons from oil and hydrogen sulphide or rotten egg gas. The EPA sent two officers to investigate. They traced the smell to Mobil. It took until Monday to locate its source on site. By the time, it was removed on Tuesday, the EPA had more than 12O complaints from as far away as Essendon. The EPA chairman, Brian Robinson, criticized delays by the company in identifying the source of the pollution. The EPA is considering prosecution. (Source: Sunday Age, 19 February, 1995)
"	Gas leak in Francis street. (Source: Sunday Age, 19 February, 1995)
"	A shell tanker, carrying 7000 litres of diesel fuel and 35,000 litres of petrol, rolls in Batman Avenue, bursting into flame. The explosion caused when leaking petrol ignited, damaged the nearby Entertainment Centre and burnt street signs and trees. (Source: Sunday Age, 12 March, 1995)
"	20,000 litres of lexane, a weak smelling solvent, seeped from an underground pipe from Mobil's Spotswood Terminal. An EPA spokesperson said 10,500 litres was recovered after it flowed into a concrete pit at the Simcock Avenue site. The remaining 9,500 litres escaped and the EPA has taken samples to find out the the extent of contamination to soil and underground water sources. (Source: Western Times, 22-3-1995)
March	Chemical accident involving a Blue Gem Transport truck of South Melbourne on the corner of Hopkins and Whitehall street. Four 200 litre drums of sodium hydroxide more commonly known as caustic soda, fell from the truck and 100 litres was spilt. It flowed into a nearby drain which the fire brigade flushed with 3000 litres of water to dilute the chemical. (Source: Western Times, 22-3-1995)
"	Chemical accident involving a Blue Gem Transport truck of South Melbourne on the corner of Hopkins and Whitehall street. Four 200 litre drums of sodium hydroxide more commonly known as caustic soda, fell from the truck and 100 litres was spilt. It flowed into a nearby drain which the fire brigade flushed with 3000 litres of water to dilute the chemical. (Source: Western Times, 22-3-1995)