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Emergency committee combats reignited mine fire at Broken Hill

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A fire that broke out at Perilya’s Broken Hill mine almost 250km north of Mildura, Victoria on Sunday has reignited after being extinguished yesterday morning.

Emergency services were first called to the zinc, lead and silver mine around 11:30pm Sunday evening to assist the Perilya Mines emergency services crew, with flames staunched by all accounts the following morning around 7:30am.

All 53 underground workers were evacuated at the time the fire broke out.

A few hours later at 11am, just as investigations were beginning into the exact cause of the fire, it was reported to have restarted.

The fire, believed to be at least 500 meters underground, has now spread to other levels of the mine.

Broken Hill Mayor Tom Kennedy told the ABC the reignition occurred when the fire “self-combusted” due to temperatures in the area reaching 40°C yesterday.

The mine is working with emergency services to extinguish the fire for good.

“A fire is continuing to burn in a mine at Broken Hill,” NSW Police said in a statement just before 8pm last night.

“Officers attached to Barrier Police District are in attendance, alongside, Fire and Rescue NSW, SES and NSW Ambulance.

“There have been no reports of injuries.”

NSW Police Inspector Chris Wallace told the ABC an emergency committee has been established to combat the blaze.

“There is absolutely no way anyone is going down that mine whilst that fire is burning and there will be a determination made once the fire is out, [as] to when people will be allowed back down,” he said.

“It’s all about the safety of people … I know there is some concerns about possible toxic smoke that’s coming out of the ventilation shafts.”

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has warned locals to take all precautions while the fire continues.

“FRNSW is aware of smoke that is venting from the Perilya Mine, Broken Hill, due to an underground fire. Perilya Mines emergency services crew is currently in attendance at the incident,” FRNSW said in a statement.

“FRNSW is urging residents to remain indoors and to close windows, doors, and vents due to the smoke in the area.”

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