Tara Murray
UPDATE: Emergency Management Victoria has declared the area around a fire at waste management facility at Brooklyn now safe.
Residents from 17 suburbs from across Melbourne’s west were earlier issued an advice warning following a fire at a recycling centre in Brooklyn this morning.
Smoke bellowed across the western suburbs, with residents told to stay inside and keep doors closed.
The message was issued for residents in Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn, Laverton North, Seaholme, Williamstown, Williamstown North, Altona Gate, Laverton, Altona East, Seabrook, Newport, South Kingsville, Tottenham, Point Cook and Sunshine West.
Residents have now been told to open windows and doors to ventilate homes or businesses.
Fire Rescue Victoria crews were called to the 174 Old Geelong Road and Jones Road just before 5.40am.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find a pile of waste material well alight.
The fire was brought under control at 6.20am to a concrete pit, with a FRV spokesperson said there was no danger of it burning underground.
Cleanaway’s Brooklyn Resource Recovery Centre is located at that location.
The material that caught on fire is believed to be non-hazardous building waste.
Firefighters are working with the EPA to manage water run off at the site.
Hoses were plugged in as far as the entrance of Old Geelong Road, from Geelong Road, this morning after issues accessing water earlier in the morning.
That was rectified after working with City West Water.
Old Geelong Road remains closed.
Brimbank council has been assisting with the traffic management of the site.
