Residents and businesses sign up for Coolaroo fire class action

MORE than 70 residents and business owners will sign up for a class action against a Coolaroo recycling plant that continues to burn.

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MORE than 70 residents and business owners will sign up for a class action against a Coolaroo recycling plant that continues to burn.

A class action will pursue against the owners and operators of the SKM Recycling plant, with Maddens Lawyers today determining it would go ahead.

Class action principal Brendan Pendergast said a “substantial” number of impacted residents had come forward and a lead plaintiff had agreed to go on the writ.

Fire crews battle the large blaze. Picture: NINE NEWS

With those two matters satisfied, he said the decision had been made to move forward with the class action.

“Many of the people who have contacted us are very agitated at the fact this is a repeat event,” he said.

“This could have been avoided if the proper systems were put in place to manage the fire risk.”

Maddens Lawyers will seek damages for those impacted by the Coolaroo blaze, the fourth fire at the Coolaroo SKM Recycling plant since February.

JUNE 2017: Recycling factory goes up in flames, again

FEB 2017: Razed plant to cause recycling headaches

Hundreds of residents were evacuated from more than 100 Dallas homes while toxic smoke travelled as far away as Port Phillip Bay.

Smoke and ash blows across Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Businesses were shut down after firefighters closed streets to tackle the blaze, which continues to burn six days later.

Mr Pendergast said some residents still had not returned to their Dallas homes.

Despite the MFB lifting the evacuation notice, Mr Pendergast said the clean-up was ongoing and some residents had not been able to return because of ash and dust.

The dust had impacted ducted heating at some properties while some residents had sought medical attention for respiratory problems.

The MFB confirmed the fire was expected to continue burning for a few more days.

Mr Pendergast said the amount of money sought from the owners and operators of SKM Recycling at Coolaroo would depend on the number of people who took part in the class action and their circumstances.

“I think there is significant level of interest and concern and it’s only constrained by our inability to get the message out to people,” he said.

The blaze at SKM Recycling last week. Picture: NINE NEWS

Helen Spriggs, an asthmatic, plans on joining the class action.

The 25-year-old was evacuated from her Dallas home along with her mother and five nieces and nephews on Thursday and didn’t return for two days.

She said she has since been diagnosed with a lung infection and has been prescribed steroids, antibiotics and Ventolin.

“It’s affected me really badly, I haven’t been able to leave the house or have a proper conversation,” she said.

“You’d think by the second fire they’d have something in order so it wouldn’t happen again.”

Maddens Lawyers will hold a public meeting for residents and businesses impacted by the blaze at the Coolaroo Hotel at 6.30pm on Thursday.

SKM Recycling did not wish to comment.

@ashargoon