Huge fire at Illawarra power station shuts down airport
A huge fire has erupted at an Illawarra power station, with police urging nearby residents to be wary of thick smoke, which is “being considered as toxic”.
NSW
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A fire that erupted at a Transgrid substation in the Illawarra, stopping flights at a nearby airport, is expected to burn for days.
More than 60 firefighters attended the blaze on Saturday, but were unable to attack
it until they received confirmation the power had been turned off at the substation.
The fire broke out at plant, south of Wollongong, about 3pm, sending enormous black plumes of smoke into the air.
The nearby Shellharbour Airport was shut down, with the smoke making it too dangerous to fly.
People have been urged to stay inside and to close all windows and doors, with police stating the smoke is “being considered toxic”.
“A large quantity of oil is on fire and there has been a number of evacuation orders,” NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry said.
“We’re waiting to get the power shut down before we start firefighting operations as it involves 330 kilovolts.”
High voltage power lines are being impacted by the blaze and one transformer is fully alight with a second transformer at risk. On Saturday evening, Transgrid company was attempting to stage a shutdown of the facility, however firefighters predicted teh fire could burn for at least four days, due to the dangerous nature of the operation.
Endeavour Energy confirmed the blaze had not impacted the power supply to homes and businesses in the Illawarra.
However, Superintendent Dewberry said some localised interruptions were expected, while also urging nearby residents to be wary of the smoke and fumes emitted by the fire.
“We’ve got our hazmat crews in attendance to monitor any firefighting run off,” he said.
“We’re advising all residents to avoid the area, close your windows and doors and comply with evacuation orders.”
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