TWO 500 millimetre diameter, 4.7 kilometre long pipes are currently being constructed inside the Hazelwood open cut mine to assist with the removal of water.
This will assist with maintaining stability in the mine and allowing increased water capacity for fire fighting if required.
Incident controller Bob Barry said being able to remove more water from the mine floor means more water can be pumped onto the burning coal. It also keeps the mine floor in better condition for fire fighters to operate.
"The piping is being connected to four large pumps – including two new pumps just brought into the mine – and will be operational Wednesday evening,” Mr Barry said.
“Currently we are pumping up to 84,000 litres of water every minute from the mine’s cooling ponds and other sources onto the fire and these new pumps and pipes will allow us to increase that which should be an improvement in this fire fight.
“We need to manage all the water being poured onto the fire and make sure it’s removed from the mine floor. These pumps will not only help us keep a balance, they allow us to get the upper hand by removing water faster from the mine which lets us get more water onto the fire.”
At least two strike teams have been brought in ahead of difficult conditions on Tuesday.
“We have had very good success over the past few days and fire activity in the mine has significantly reduced,” Mr Barry said.
“Tuesday could be challenging so the additional strike teams will be there to stop fires that escape from the mine – as occurred last week – so we don’t have to divert resources from within the mine.”
The strategy being successfully used along the coal batters is that an aviation fire tender that carries 9000 litres of water and uses an on-board nozzle (which penetrates the coal), drives though and cools an area, then Compressed Air Foam units and aerial trucks apply foam to soak into the fire for a few hours before crews using thermal imaging cameras extinguish remaining hotspots. To further support this strategy an extra seven high capacity (4000lt) tankers have been requested.
“We won’t hand this fire back to the mine until it no longer presents a threat. We are confident we will put this fire out,” Mr Barry said.
The CFA Health Support Team, supported by local health professionals is currently undertaking an average of 1600 health checks a day at the Hazelwood power station staging area.
HST state co-ordinator Peter Langridge said the team was working round the clock to measure the levels of carbon monoxide in the blood of mine workers, emergency services personnel and visitors to the staging area.
“The process takes less than a minute and involves a simple test using a Masimo CO-oximeter, which is placed around a finger and gives a percentage reading almost instantly,” Mr Langridge said.
“We’ve seen an average of four people every 24 hour period with slightly elevated levels of between five and seven per cent and one to two per day with medium elevated levels.
“Anyone who has a reading of more than eight per cent is assessed by a paramedic and either released to go home and not return for 48 hours, or, if they’re showing any other symptoms, they’re referred to the Latrobe Regional Hospital. This is a quick and efficient method of constantly monitoring personnel who are spending time in or near the mine in the current conditions.”
Temporary relocation away from smoke is recommended for people aged over 65, pre-school aged children (under 5, including babies and infants), pregnant women and anyone with a pre-existing heart or lung condition living or working in Morwell South, south of the railway line.
Advice and support regarding temporary relocation is available through Department of Human Services on 1800 006 468 or visit www.dhs.vic.gov.au
