POLICE have established an exclusion zone around a factory fire at Kingaroy on Sunday morning, after large plumes of potentially toxic smoke rose from the blaze earlier this morning.
The fire broke out at Swickers Bacon Factory about 7.45am on Kingaroy Barkers Creek Road and a police spokesman said the exclusion zone of up to a kilometre was a precaution because of the chemicals which could be in the smoke.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service scientific team was travelling to the scene to take air samples to determine whether there were any toxic chemicals in the air.
About 11am nine fire crews were still battling the blaze, which they found had fully engulfed the factory upon arrival.
Nearby residents were being urged to close windows and doors while motorists should avoid the area.
It is understood the fire has affected the front area of the facility, in particular the boning room and chiller. It is thought the kill floor and the new $10 million cooked pork section remains unaffected. It is also understood that no workers were injured and no live pigs were affected by the fire.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, said it was a very worrying time for the community in the lead up to Christmas, as Swickers employed about 600 people.
“Swickers was certainly ramping up production before Christmas,” the LNP opposition deputy leader said.
“It is a very worrying time not just for the 600 employees but also for all those producers who supply Swickers and will have pigs ready for processing.”
Swickers is the largest pork abattoir in the southern hemisphere is the only export pork facility in Queensland. The company is owned by the CMH Alliance, which in turn is owned by the Cameron Pastoral Company, DA Hall and Company and McLean Farms.
The fire comes with the pig industry in a period of expansion. Swickers currently processes some 22,000 pigs a week, about 96 per cent of all pigs processed in Queensland.
Pork products produced at Swickers are marketed by SunPork Fresh Foods, which has its head office in Murarrie in Brisbane.
South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell the fire would present a major challenge for the community.
“While the actual extent of the fire is not known, it is certainly a very black day for the South Burnett and the wider community.
“Swickers is Kingaroy’s biggest employer and the South Burnett Regional Council will be offering whatever assistance it can.”
Federal member for Maranoa, David Littleproud, said assistance was being offered in the wake of Swickers fire.
“I, along with the whole community, are praying no one has been injured in this event as the full extent of this morning’s fire is still being investigated by emergency services,” Mr Littleproud said.
“I’ve already reached out to the owners to offer my assistance and I will meet with my Ministerial colleagues during this week’s Federal Parliamentary sittings this week to make sure every support is offered to those affected during this difficult time.
“This iconic business has played an integral part for employment in the South Burnett and Queensland’s pork processing for more than 50 years and I’ll do all I can to assist affected employees, their families and SunPork Fresh Foods to rebuild after this tragic event.”
- Additional reporting Mark Phelps