EPA tells West Footscray warehouse owner to start cleaning up or face fines

THE owner of a West Footscray warehouse that went up in smoke in a blaze three weeks ago has been ordered to clean up the site or face daily fines.

THE owner of a West Footscray warehouse that went up in smoke in a blaze three weeks ago has been ordered to clean up the site or face daily fines.

In early steps to clean up the Somerville Rd site, the Environment Protection Authority has ordered owner Chris Baldwin to inspect the property daily to check on any mat­erials stored, install security fences, keep ­access ways clear, and ensure contingencies for rainfall are in place to stop run-off entering stormwater drains.

Failure to comply with the orders could cost Mr Baldwin more than $48,000, plus $8000 for every day the works are overdue.

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Firefighters battled the West Footscray warehouse blaze for days. Picture: Aaron Francis

Police and fire authorities are still investigating the ­August 30 blaze — the city’s biggest in years — which has been deemed suspicious.

The early-morning inferno caused toxic black smoke to spew across the western suburbs towards the city, forcing schools and businesses to shut and leading to the issuing of health warnings.

EPA chief executive officer Dr Cathy Wilkinson warned residents to keep themselves and their pets away from Stony Creek, over fears the waterway could be contaminated.

Firefighters try to fight the flames as they leap from the giant factory fire. Picture: AFP

“We’ve also conducted letterbox drops, and we know the main concern from the community is when the creek and parks will be back to normal,” Dr Wilkinson said.

“We’re working hard with Maribyrnong council to determine this, but unfortunately it will take time.

“We know the odour from the creek is unpleasant and may be affecting some people, so we’re encouraging people to limit their exposure.”

Asked about the clean-up, Mr Baldwin told the Herald Sun: “It’s all being sorted out. It’s all going well.”

Results of testing for fire-­related chemicals in waterways found there was no immediate danger to health.

Investigators said there were likely to have been between two and four starting places for the fire.

The clean-up has been hampered because numerous chemicals were scattered throughout the warehouse, some of them so potent footwear and nail polish melted.

Blame has been levelled at a former tenant, Chris Randle, who ran a sawmill business from the site before being booted out over unpaid debts.

Mr Randle said he had done nothing wrong and had “got nothing to do with this fire’’.

The new tenant, Graham White, has been on the receiving end from angry unpaid creditors who, not realising there had been a change in tenancy, had been demanding their cash and supplies.

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