On August 21 1991 the Coode Island Storeage Facility exploded in fire which lasted two days, becoming one of Australia's worst industrial accidents. The fire quickly caused the explosion of two tanks which destoyed a piping system rendering the fire fighting, tank cooling and foam systems inoperative.
The fire spread out of control to the Road Tanker Filling Site destroying two tankers containing over 40 tonnes of benzene. The fire's intense heat melted empty tanks and blew the tops off some other tanks. Debris and flying cladding bought down overhead power lines cutting all power to the site including the alarms.
On the first day, the Westgate Bridge, Footscray Market and Dynon Road were closed, as a black cloud drifted over Melbourne. Local power was also shut down. People were evacuated to the nearby Western Oval, and four ships in port were evacuated. Residents were advised to stay indoors and to close windows and doors. By 4 pm. the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) was advising that a toxic cloud was heading towards the eastern suburbs of Hawthorn and Kew. Swanston and Appleton Docks were evacuated. By 5 pm, office workers in the city were being advised to stay inside and turn off air- conditioners, as the cloud drifted towards Frankston, over 30 kilometres south-east.
Footscray side of the Maribyrnong River |
100 metres
|
Closest work place |
500 metres
|
Whitehall Street |
600 metres
|
Yarraville Gardens |
600 metres
|
Hyde Street |
800 metres
|
Napier st |
800 metres
|
Footscray Primary School |
900 metres
|
Stephen Street |
1100 metres
|
Yarraville Shopping centre (Anderson St) |
1200 metres
|
Footscray Shopping centre |
1200 metres
|
Barnet Street, Yarraville |
1300 metres
|
Footscray Swimming Pool |
1400 metres
|
Gamon Street |
1600 metres
|
Williamstown Road |
2km
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HazMAG: Grasslands 205 Nicholson St Footscray POST: PO Box 27 Yarraville Victoria Australia 3013 TEL:9689 9754 EMAIL:chouse@vicnet.net.au |