Industrial fire in Swanbank ‘choking’ residents with smoke

Ipswich residents say they spent their Christmas struggling to breathe as a compost fire continues to smoulder five days after it first began.

Ipswich residents say they spent their Christmas choking on smoke as a compost fire at a nearby business continues to smoulder five days after it started.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) were first called out to the blaze

at Wood Mulching Industries (WMI) in the Swanbank Industrial Area on Friday afternoon, where they used onsite excavators to smother the fire.

The blaze reignited the following night about 7.30pm, with QFES again attending the scene to put the fire out.

A fire was spotted by residents at Wood Mulching Industries on Friday. Picture: Simon Ingram

QFES attended the property for a third time on Sunday morning, after multiple calls from residents complaining about the smoke in the area.

Local Scott Kerr said the smoke got so bad he was forced to leave his home and stay in a motel.

“I went to bed, closed the bedroom door and all other windows and doors were shut,” he said.

“An overpowering smell of putrid smoke came into the bedroom. Instantly I knew the smell, I checked my house and nothing was on fire.

“A few minutes later my eyes began to water. I was in disbelief the smoke had seeped in through two closed doors. I called Triple-0, that night was the worse yet.”

Despite more than 40mm of rain in the area over the last few days the fire continues to burn. One resident said her air conditioner broke on Christmas Day, describing the interior of her home as a “sauna.”

“We can’t keep our windows open to get a cool breeze to cool down the house tonight,” she said.

The Swanbank fire from above. Picture: Craig Myers

Resident Michelle Kate described the smell on Sunday as a “big s***t bonfire.”

Amanda Nduati said her smoke alarms have gone off multiple times, while Jacqueline Power said the “the smoke is choking us.”

Calling for a break from the smoke, Tracey Butler said “don’t you just love the smell of composting in the smoke.”

While a specific warning hasn’t been issued for smoke in the area, QFES advised residents to close all windows and keep medication close by.

Ipswich residents have become familiar with horrible smells, with a pungent reoccurring odour plaguing the region for years.

More than 1500 residents have now signed a Queensland Parliament E-Petition to “stop the stink.”

On Thursday DES (Department of Environment and Science) issued a statement.

“The fire was contained on 23 December, with one green waste stockpile continuing to produce smoke. DES has liaised with QFES, who have advised that the action being taken by WMI to smother the fire with soil is appropriate, as using water will likely generate more smoke. DES compliance officers returned to site yesterday and again today to monitor the company’s actions to extinguish the fire to ensure the operator is taking appropriate actions to manage the environmental risks as quickly as possible. DES compliance officers will review the cause of the fire and the operator’s response once it has been extinguished to determine if there have been any breaches to the company’s Environmental Authority. DES will consider enforcement action if such non-compliance is identified. In March 2021, WMI was fined $13,345 by the Department for odour issues affecting residents in Redbank Plains,” the statement read.

Have you experienced any side effects from the odours in Ipswich? Contact [e-mail].