Australia’s only monastic town evacuated after chemical truck fire

About 100 residents, including nine monks, have been evacuated after a truck carrying ammonium nitrate caught fire.

Australia’s only monastic town has been evacuated after a truck carrying dangerous chemicals caught fire nearby.

New Norcia, about 132km north of Perth, is home to about 100 people, including nine monks at the New Norcia Benedictine monastery.

They had to flee when the alarm was raised about 8.50pm Saturday near the corner of Great Northern Hwy and Calingiri-New Norcia Rd when a truck carrying ammonium nitrate caught fire.

The nation's only monastic town, New Norcia, WA, was evacuated after a truck carrying ammonium nitrate crashed nearby on Saturday.

The sand-like substances is used in explosives, fertilisers, and antibiotics — and when heated it can release toxic nitrogen oxides and ammonia gases.

Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued a hazmat general warning about an hour after the fire was reported, warning of a “direct threat to the community of New Norcia.”

“All residents need to evacuate from New Norcia leaving along Great Northern Highway in a northerly or southerly direction towards the roadblocks,” read the warning.

New Norcia is home to a Benedictine abbey, containing a monastery and two former boarding schools. Picture: Tony McDonough.

New Norcia chief bush fire control officer Gavin Halligan told The West Australian newspaper a 4km exclusion zone has been set up around the town.

He told the paper “90 per cent of the town was cooperative” during the evacuation.

The blaze has been contained, but the incident us yet to be given the all-clear.

At the time of writing, Great Northern Hwy past the town remains closed, with a detour on New Norcia Rd in place.

Originally published as Australia’s only monastic town evacuated after chemical truck fire