‘We can’t sleep, we can’t breathe’: Residents of Morwell, Victoria despair at the fire that won’t die

It may take up to 10 days for authorities to get on top of the fire. 

 

THE smoke is making their lives impossible. 

Distraught residents of Morwell, Victoria, say the coalmine fire that has been blazing nearby for almost three weeks is pushing them to the edge.

The fire blazes near Morwell on February 25.

 

People aged over 65, preschool-age children, pregnant women and anyone with a pre-existing heart or lung condition have been urged to leave Morwell South, the residential area closest to the mine.

Many in the town are angry with the response by authorities, and heckled them in Morwell during their Friday media conference about the temporary relocation.

“We can’t sleep, we can’t go outside, we can’t breathe,” said Estelle Landy through tears. “There’s people in the street wearing masks every day.

Firefighters continue to fight the blaze on land and in helicopter. Picture: 

 

“Everyone here shows you there’s a problem and nothing’s done at all. They tell us to stay and we can’t.

“You can’t continue to allow this to happen.”
Chief health officer Rosemary Lester said the advice for those deemed vulnerable was a precautionary measure.

“This is not an evacuation,” she said. “It is an advice for a temporary relocation until the air quality improves.”

Breathing masks: Sherridan Newman, 4 and Sheniqua Gunton,5 are moving out to Inverloch with their families because of the crisis.

 

Premier Dennis Napthine has urged residents to follow the health officer’s advice. 

 

Dr Lester defended the timing of the stepped-up advice, given fire authorities had already said it would take at least another fortnight to get on top of the blaze.

“The advice up until now has been appropriate for the length of exposure,” she said.
“Because we know now that the exposure is likely to continue, we think now is the right time to increase the advice to temporary relocation.”

It’s expected to take at least another 10 days to get on top of the fire in the Hazelwood open-cut mine.
Dr Lester said moving temporarily would be the best way for vulnerable people to avoid the continuing smoke.

Blackened earth: A section of the ablaze mine. 

 

The continued advice to other residents is to take temporary breaks from the smoke, to stay indoors and avoid physical activity outside.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said in the best case it would be another 10 days before the fire stops putting significant smoke and ash over Morwell, but authorities are concerned about two hot and windy days next week.

Premier Denis Napthine urged people to follow the chief health officer’s advice, but said there was no compulsion for people to relocate.

The fire has forced a judge to twice move a criminal trial 50km away to Sale, while Australia Post has suspended delivery to Morwell street addresses and several schools, kindergartens and childcare centres in Morwell have also been closed or relocated to nearby towns.