Melbourne on fire: Residents stay indoor as factory fire sends toxic smoke into suburbs

(9News) MELBOURNE- A huge factory fire burning out-of-control in Melbourne – sending toxic smoke and flames high into the sky – will take “hours to control”.

Residents and workers have been warned to stay indoors as thick plumes of toxic smoke continue to spread over Melbourne’s west.

The black clouds began after a factory caught fire in Somerville Road in Tottenham just after 5am, and have stretched across neighbouring suburbs such as Footscray and Altona.

The inferno is being fuelled by Oxy Acetylene, which is used in welding equipment, and Acetone, which is found in nail polish remover.

Firefighters will evacuate residents if the fire continues to burn out of control. (9NEWS)

Smoke pillowing from fire. (Rachel McDonald)

(9NEWS)

The chemicals are stored inside the factory and regular explosions have been seen and heard throughout the morning, with a number of 44-gallon drums erupting.

The Metropolitan Fire Service (MFB) says the building’s roof and walls contain asbestos, but that is not a major concern at this stage, because the dangerous asbestos is being kept wet to avoid it becoming airborne.

Both the MFB and the EPA are on scene assessing the air quality on a regular basis, and have advised people who are downwind of the fire to stay indoors with their windows closed until further notice.

Flames are visible from the other side of the city. This is the view from Tottenham. (Kim Kerr)

Picture taken from cargo ship MV Victorian Reliance. (Matt Normington)

MFB acting deputy chief Ken Brown says more than 100 firefighters are on scene, but its been a challenging task due to the chemicals involved.

“We’ve got our scientific officers and our HAZMAT technician experts in there, monitoring the atmosphere around the fire to make sure our firefighters aren’t exposed,” he said.

“The affected area is only the immediate area where the firefighters are working.”

Residents can hear large explosions coming from the fire. (Nine )

The blaze is showing no signs of slowing down after sparking at 5.50am. Residents in west Yarraville are waking up to the haze. (Henza Taj)

The MFB says the dangerous period regarding asbestos is more likely to come after the fire has died down.

“Wetting down the (asbestos) material minimises the exposure. So as we clean up the focus will be on making sure the asbestos is removed,” Deputy Chief Brown said.

More than 30 trucks are on the scene of a monstrous factory fire in West Footscray, Melbourne. (Nine )

“We’ll do particulate monitoring, not just for asbestos but we will monitor the particulate matter, to make sure of the impact.”

There is no sign of the fire slowing, with the copious amounts of fuel likely to keep the blaze going until the early afternoon.

From Leakes Road, Truganina. (Sonia Ayala)

Nearby Somerville road and Paramount Road are closed, but it’s unlikely that any other major thoroughfares like the West Gate Freeway will shut.

Fire investigators were at the scene within 90 minutes of the fire starting, but there is nothing to suggest it is a suspicious blaze.

Those with breathing difficulties are being told to avoid the area. (Nine )

Firefighters are considering evacuating residents if they continue to struggle to contain the blaze, while surrounding schools may be forced to send students home.

The Metropolitan Fire Service has issued a community warning for residents within a two-kilometre radius of the blaze.

Those with breathing difficulties are urged to keep their windows and doors closed.

9News Australia

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