An explosive fire at a Geelong oil refinery \u2013 which supplies half of the fuel in Victoria\u2019s fuel and 10% of the nation\u2019s \u2013 has broken out, with petrol production to be affected for some time and authorities warning the full extent of the damage is still unknown.<\/p>\n
The blaze at the Viva Energy<\/a> facility in Corio \u2013 one of two refineries left in Australia \u2013 broke out just after 11pm Wednesday, with Fire Rescue Victoria alerted to the incident by multiple calls to triple zero \u201creporting explosions and flames\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fire is not yet under control although is currently contained to the plant\/area of origin and involves liquid fuels and gases,\u201d FRV said in a statement at 5am on Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cAll emergency response personnel and Viva employees have been accounted for and there have been no reported injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n A watch and act alert urging local residents to shelter indoors was issued at 1am, but was later downgraded to an advice message on the VicEmergency website about 5.30am. It said the threat was \u201creduced\u201d and residents were \u201cnow able to resume normal activities\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fire is still being fought by fire fighters but there is no threat to the public,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n The refinery supplies half of Victoria\u2019s and 10% of the nation\u2019s fuel. It can process about 120,000 barrels of oil each day, according to its website.<\/p>\n Last month, the company was able to maintain supplies despite the war in Iran as it was not reliant on fuel from the Middle East.<\/p>\n FRV chief fire officer, Michael McGuinness, told ABC Radio Melbourne<\/a> shortly before 7am that the fire was contained to an area within the Mogas (motorgas) section of the refinery, which is about 30m by 30m in size. He warned it could burn for another three or four hours.<\/p>\n