How long did the Hazelwood mine fire burn?
45 days
A fire burned in the Hazelwood coal mine for 45 days in February and March 2014. It was the largest and longest-burning mine fire to occur in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley.
How did Hazelwood fire start?
The Hazelwood mine fire, which began when a bushfire burned into the brown coal reserve, burned for 45 days, resulting in plumes of smoke and ash over the neighbouring town of Morwell as well as other towns in the Latrobe valley, east of Melbourne.
What happens if a coal mine catches fire?
The place smells like a steam train in a pioneer village and the ground is warm to the touch. Across the pit, fire trucks head up and down the tiers, spraying water as best they can. Along the top of the mine is a firebreak cleared by bulldozers. Beyond that is blackened scrub from the fires.
Can coal mines catch fire?
Coal seam fires can be divided into near-surface fires, in which seams extend to the surface and the oxygen required for their ignition comes from the atmosphere, and fires in deep underground mines, where the oxygen comes from ventilation. Some fires along coal seams are natural occurrences.
Is there a fire in Traralgon?
There is a large building fire on Eastern Road in Traralgon East.
Who closed Hazelwood power?
Engie
On 3 November 2016, Engie announced that the entire Hazelwood plant would be closed at the end of March 2017 giving five months notice of the closure….
| Hazelwood Power Station | |
|---|---|
| Status | Decommissioned |
| Commission date | 1964 |
| Decommission date | 2017 |
| Owner(s) | 72% Engie 28% Mitsui & Co. |
How big is the Hazelwood mine?
GDF SUEZ Australian Energy Hazelwood plant comprises a 1542 MW power station and an adjacent brown coal lignite mine that covers an area of 3554 ha. Hazelwood is jointly owned by GDF SUEZ Australian Energy and Mitsui and Co Ltd.
Are fire restrictions off in Victoria?
Start dates and end dates of seasonal prohibited periods are shown below….Prohibited period in Hume (north-eastern Victoria)
| Municipality | Prohibited period starts | Prohibited period ends |
|---|---|---|
| Wangaratta Rural City | 30 November 2020 | 29 March 2021 |
| Wodonga City | 30 November 2020 | 29 March 2021 |
Why did Hazelwood power station close down?
On 3 November 2016, Engie announced that Hazelwood would be closed by the end of March 2017, citing the company’s transformational policy of investing solely in low-carbon and renewable energy, as well lower energy prices and oversupply within Victoria.
How did the Hazelwood mine fire affect Morwell?
A fire in Hazelwood’s giant open cut mine raged out of control for nearly a month. It dumped toxic smoke over the 12,000 residents of Morwell, forcing many to flee. The question now being asked is did the Victorian government do enough to protect the citizens of Morwell from this disaster?
Who was premier at time of Morwell mine fire?
Victorian premier Denis Napthine is expected to announce the terms of reference for an inquiry into the Morwell mine fire this weekend. The inquiry can’t too soon for the 12,000 local residents who suffered under a thick blanket of smoke and ash while the fire raged out of control for over four weeks.
How big is the Hazelwood coal mine in NSW?
The Hazelwood coal mine is 7km long, 4km wide and 40 storeys deep, situated on the edge of Morwell, a town of 14,000 people. It is less than 400 metres from the coal face to streets. Within 20km of the mine live another 55,000 people in the towns of Moe, Traralgon, Newborough and Churchill.
When did the Black Saturday fires start in Victoria?
Conditions in Victoria on Saturday February 9 were the worst they had been since the 2009 Black Saturday fires. It was hot and windy. Temperatures were around 40C and a strong change brought wind gusts of up to 100kph. At least 45 homes were lost at Gisborne, Craigieburn and Warrandyte north of Melbourne. By mid-afternoon 70 fires were burning.