A fire broke out late at night on the 15th at a refinery located in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
This refinery belongs to Viva Energy Group. The fire started in the automotive gasoline production area, and investigators initially suspect that a leak caused the blaze.
The Victoria Fire and Rescue Service stated that about 50 fire trucks participated in firefighting operations. The fire has been contained to a 30-meter-square area and is expected to burn for about three more hours.
Toxic gases produced by the fire once threatened a large area of Geelong. The Fire and Rescue Service advised residents in affected areas to keep doors and windows closed and turn off air conditioning systems. Later, due to a change in wind direction, the affected area decreased, and the fire currently poses no threat to the public.
The Fire and Rescue Service said that all personnel at the refinery as well as all firefighting and rescue personnel are safe.
Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Bowen, pointed out that the refinery's diesel and aviation fuel production areas are still operating, but gasoline production has been affected.
The Viva Energy refinery is one of only two refineries based in Australia, able to process 120,000 barrels of crude oil per day, meeting 10% of the nation’s refined oil demand. Authorities state that domestic fuel supply may therefore be disrupted.