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Shortly before midday, emergency teams from Fire Rescue Victoria responded to a call regarding a fire at the Yallourn Power Station in the Latrobe Valley. A lightning strike had ignited embers in a coal bunker, prompting the Triple-Zero alert.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a significant blaze, measuring approximately 40 meters by 20 meters in height.
Currently, around 40 firefighters are actively working to bring the fire under control.
Peter Marshall, representing the United Firefighters Union, expressed uncertainty about the strategies available to manage the situation effectively.
“We are facing a severe crisis in the fire service,” he explained to Jacqui Felgate, “where the morale among firefighters has plummeted due to a perceived lack of governmental support.”
Ambulance Victoria have also been called.
The coal-fired power station supplies 22 per cent of Victoria’s power.
The site, which has been running for more than 100 years, is due to close in 2028 as part of a $5 billion transformation into a ‘low-carbon emissions hub’ by owners Energy Australia.