Milk powder keg

By Danny Buttler
It is believed that a build-up of milk powder on the walls of a drying silo led to the fire.
A CFA unit from Longwarry was first on the scene, calling in the extension ladder from Dandenong to help control the blaze.
A total of 39 firefighters were need to control the blaze, with CFA units from Drouin, Bunyip and Traralgon also attending.
No-one was injured in the incident, which occurred about 1.30am.
CFA incident controller Ian Pattie said it was the quick thinking of the Longwarry crew that helped contain the damage bill.
Mr Pattie said a conveyor belt moving from the drying silo to the packaging plant could have transported the fire across the entire factory.
“They put in a big effort to physically break the flow of material into the packaging area by shutting off the conveyor belt,” he said.
“I couldn’t have asked for them to do it more calmly.”
Longwarry Food Park managing director Rakesh Aggarwal said he was grateful for the CFA’s efforts in containing the fire.
Mr Aggarwal said the plant would be back in full operation by next week, with no staff hours lost in the meantime.
“The system worked as designed and prevented the fire spreading and we are thankful for the CFA’s efforts,” he said.
“Gippy Fresh milk and UHT production is unaffected and the rest should be back in five to seven days.”
Mr Aggarwal said the Gippsland dairy community had rallied behind the company, ensuring that it could maintain its full operations while the equipment was repaired.
“Murray Goulburn, Dairy Australia and Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factor have all offered their support, which we are grateful to them for,” he said.
“There will no effect on suppliers at all.”
Mr Pattie said milk powder was highly combustible, meaning fires in the drying process were not unusual.
“Milk is more explosive than coal dust or sawdust powder,” he said.
“Occasionally if it is not quite dry enough it will stick to the walls of the chamber and it builds up. “If that builds up to 30-50mm thick it can start to smoulder and if that piece falls off and is exposed to the air it will ignite with the dust.”