An inferno on a conveyor system at a grain silo in Mackay Harbour on Monday, the 13th of January, left locals in shock and sparked an urgent response from emergency services. The blaze, which began around 6.15pm at GrainCorp on George Bell Drive, unleashed thick plumes of black smoke that could be seen throughout the Mackay Port industrial area.
Workers in the vicinity were the first to spot the smoke and flames leaping from the silo, which reportedly contained chickpeas. Workers at nearby businesses were concerned that the fire was within the proximity to fuel lines which could pose a significant risk, however the fire service confirmed that there was not a significant risk.
Emergency crews from Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR) were quickly on site, working in tandem with local police to control the blaze. The fire was brought under control by around 9pm and completely out by 11pm. A significant challenge for firefighters was scaling around 60 metres of stairway to get to the fire, lugging hoses and equipment up the vertical ascent to reach the blaze.
Authorities immediately evacuated the nearby beach, set up an exclusion zone and implemented traffic diversions under the provisions of the Public Safety Preservation Act to ensure public safety. Workers and nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution.
Police urged members of the public to avoid the area while emergency services worked to manage the incident.
The PSPA was lifted and roads re-opened around 10:30pm.
Queensland Ambulance confirmed there were no injuries, and no patients were reported from the fire. A GrainCorp spokesperson confirmed that no one was injured and thanked emergency services for their rapid response.
North Queensland Bulk Ports said it responded to the incident and is working with GrainCorp. A spokesperson confirmed that port operations returned to normal once the PSPA was lifted. Grain is the third-largest commodity to be exported from the Port of Mackay.
The fire's cause was reported as unknown, with officials continuing to monitor developments.
Photo credit: Ian Nelson
Photo credit: Allison Bradshaw
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