Ministerial Statement

WINGFIELD WASTE DEPOT

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:08): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I advised the house yesterday about the fire at the Mulhern Waste Oil depot on Wing Street at Wingfield. I am advised that the first MFS crew arrived at the incident within five minutes and identified a large petrochemical fire that was developing rapidly.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Give it a break. You are so rude. In all, more than 100 MFS firefighters and CFS volunteers responded to the fire. By late afternoon, at approximately 6pm, firefighters, supported by the water bombing aircraft, had made good progress in containing the fire. The MFS and myself are extremely appreciative of the CFS and SES volunteers for their prompt response times and support.

During the course of the day an MFS firefighter was injured in an explosion. The firefighter sustained minor burns to one hand and was treated at the scene and later at hospital. Several other firefighters were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion by SA Ambulance Service paramedics, who have done a great job and remained on the scene throughout the incident to monitor the health and wellbeing of firefighters.

MFS crews addressed water supply issues with the deployment of a high-volume hose relay and the CFS tankers. Throughout the incident a large plume of smoke was visible across Adelaide's skyline. Initially, the community and media expressed concerns about the smoke being highly toxic in nature. I have been advised that this was not the case.

Services, such as electricity and gas, were isolated to the premises and adjacent businesses during the height of the fire. These isolations were conducted as close to the incident where it was safe to do so to limit the level of disruption. Officers from the EPA, the Technical Advice Coordinator and the MFS Hazmat Response Team were on site during the incident and provided advice regarding the toxicity of the smoke and pollutants potentially entering the environment. The fire was contained at 11pm yesterday.

MFS crews remain at the site carrying out overhaul and fire suppression activities in the many hot spots that remain. Fire cause investigators from the MFS and SAPOL will conduct an investigation when it is safe to do so. There is no estimate of damage at this stage. SAPOL has advised that early investigations have revealed that the cause at this stage is not suspicious.

At the press conference this morning Roy Thompson, Assistant Chief Officer with the MFS, said that it was the worst fire he had been to in his 25 years as a firie and one of the largest we have seen in Adelaide in many years. Roy commended all personnel from across emergency services on their high level of commitment and for the exceptional collaboration under extreme circumstances.

I would like to echo Roy's words of praise and thank every officer involved in this team effort for their professionalism and for their courage. I would also like to thank the Salvation Army who were on site providing meals to personnel throughout the whole event. It is a testament to the work of the MFS, CFS, SES and SAPOL that the damage was contained and no member of the public was hurt.

I am pleased to be able to advise the house that the firefighter who was injured has been discharged from hospital and returned to his family. At approximately 3pm today the emergency team managing the site will be meeting to determine whether the site can now be handed over to the EPA.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, minister. I am sure that all members here join you in thanking those volunteers who helped out, and we also send our wishes to the firefighter who was hurt.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!