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Canberra Today 19°/23° | Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Pialligo waste fire

FIREFIGHTERS have returned to Canberra Concrete Recyclers, Pialligo Ave, Pialligo to work on continuing to extinguish a fire in a pile of builders waste.

ACT Fire & Rescue was notified last night at 8 o’clock by an Emergency Triple Zero (000) call and went to the scene to begin operations in putting out the fire. Crews worked through the night and made the area safe covering the pile of builders waste with foam solution. Due to safety concerns, crews left the scene at approximately 10pm due to the darkness and the nature of the material in the area.

Firefighters have returned today at first light with two Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) tankers and one Commander to continue operations. Heavy plant machinery on site is also being used to allow firefighters to get to the seat of the fire.

The size of the builders waste pile is approximately 40 metres x 30 metres.


Volunteer firefighters from the ACT Rural Fire Service have also been called to assist in fire operations at the builders waste fire.

Two CAFS tankers, one bulk water carrier, one heavy tanker and an officer have joined the units from ACT Fire & Rescue.

Firefighters continue to extinguish the burning pile which is isolated from other areas of the business.

11:12


Firefighters are continuing to extinguish the builders waste fire and operations are expected to continue through the day and into the evening.

As a result of the Pialligo fire, some smoke has impacted on parts of Canberra and surrounding districts.

14:28


The fire has been contained with on site heavy equipment being used to reduce the amount of material on the fire.

Several ACT Fire & Rescue fire trucks including specialised compressed air foam tankers remain in scene.

At this stage it is expected the fire will continue to burn for several days with smoke still being produced and spread away from Pialligo depending on the weather conditions.

People in areas where the smoke is present who have breathing difficulties should remain indoors.

09:43 July 6


ESA is managing the fire at Canberra Concrete Recyclers from an environmental and smoke hazard perspective.

Fire crews will be on site for the rest of the day putting out the fire and will reassess the situation this afternoon.

The weather conditions today means the smoke is staying low and the strategy of fire crews is to produce as little smoke as possible.

Most of what is seen today will be steam in the air.

Residents concerned about their health should contact ACT Health for advice.

09:52

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One Response to Pialligo waste fire

Dean says: 5 July 2015 at 4:32 pm

Why does Commander Maher think the builders’ waste couldn’t be toxic or contain asbestos? Is it the type made of fairy dust?

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