Cairns asphalt plant staff have been evacuated after fire in Portsmith

Workers at an asphalt plant in Cairns have been evacuated after a fire broke out at the site.

Fire crews have responded to a fire and workers have been evacuated at an asphalt plant on Tingira Street at Portsmith this morning.

Emergency services were called to reports of smoke behind the building as evacuation protocols were implemented for plant employees.

A QFES spokesman said crews had responded to reports of smoke at an industrial building around 9am however due to wet weather and flooding on the road, fire crews had to make their way into the building on foot.

“We would have been able to drive through, but it would have been slower so we sent crews out on foot,” station officer Clint L’Strange said.

Employees at a Tingira Street plant were evacuated after a drum fire on Monday morning.

He said access to the drum fire was “a bit hard” because due to the condition of the road and the location of the fire in the complex.

“It took a little while for us to get access in there.

“It’s like a trommel, like a big round drum used for mixing asphalt ... not sure how it started in there at the moment,” Mr L’Strange said.

Mr L’Strange commended the plant employees for their ‘perfect’ evacuation.

“It was great for us on arrival that everyone was under control.

“External line was first to call it and then we figured out how we can open some hatches to get in,” he said.

A QFES spokeswoman said an investigation into the fire would be handled by plant management.

Originally published as Cairns asphalt plant staff have been evacuated after fire in Portsmith