| Status | Recovery |
|---|---|
| Incident date | 9 June 2026 |
| Locations affected | Campbellfield, Merlynston Creek, Jack Roper Reserve |
Incident summary
A major fire broke out at the DGL Group facility at DGL, Nathan Drive, Campbellfield late in the evening of 9 June, 2026.
The facility manages chemicals including heavy metals. Controlling the blaze required large quantities of water to be used, though firefighting efforts were designed to reduce water use with the aim of limiting firewater runoff.
The fire took several hours to control and involved 70 firefighters. Smoke from the fire was a concern at first but by the morning of 10 June, EPA air monitoring showed air quality locally was good. The DGL facility is about a kilometre from residential areas. EPA however, did advise that if you felt you had been affected by smoke, to call your health professional.
Firewater runoff to the local storm drain system was a concern given the quantities of water needed to control the fire. EPA officers began inspections of the drain system as early as practicable and determined there was a need for an alert to avoid contact with the waters at Merlynston Creek near National Boulevard. Later that warning was extended to include Jack Roper Reserve. An alert to avoid consumption of fish taken from the waters was also included.
Melbourne Water, working with EPA and the duty holder, DGL, deployed eduction trucks to syphon water from the drain system to limit the quantities flowing to the Creek.
Water testing on samples collected by EPA science teams from Merlynston Creek on 10/06/2026 at three sites directly downstream of the fire showed elevated levels of copper and higher than ambient Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). These results suggest some level of chemical contamination for firewater entering the creek.
The situation is ongoing and EPA advises to watch for updated water alerts. DGL is an EPA licensed facility, but had no active notices on it at the time of the fire to limit its operations. However, EPA did have Information Gathering Notices in place requiring the provision of information relating to management of fire risk.
Our role
As Victoria’s independent environment regulator, our role is to monitor and enforce compliance with the Environment Protection Act 2017.
We're responsible for making sure businesses prevent or control pollution and improve the quality of the environment. This includes regulating activities that may cause harm to human health or the environment.
Learn about our role in:
We work with government and other regulatory authorities to respond to incidents. Learn more about our role in incidents.
Health information
Air quality during the fire posed a low risk to human health to residential areas. Air monitoring units in the area showed good air quality by the morning of 10 June.
Water quality testing showed there was an elevated risk to human health with firewater contamination to Merlynston Creek which flows to the Jack Roper Reserve. Alerts to avoid contact with water in the Creek and the lake in Jack Roper were issued on 10 June and remain in place following testing.
EPA also advises not to consume fish taken from these waters.
Report pollution
Help us to prevent harm to human health and the environment.
Our response
EPA was contacted by Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) that a major fire had broken out in the early hours of 10 June at chemical facility DGL in Nathan Drive, Campbellfield. EPA officers were deployed immediately to assist with advice on firewater and smoke monitoring and control.
Air monitoring by FRV showed concerns at the time but by the morning EPA air monitoring showed air quality was good. Attempts were made by firefighters to limit the quantity of water used to control the blaze but a large volume still reached the drain system which leads to Merlynston Creek.
EPA officers began inspections of the drain system as early as practicable and determined there was a need for an alert to avoid contact with the waters at Merlynston Creek near National Boulevard. Later that warning was extended to include Jack Roper Reserve An alert to avoid consumption of fish taken from the waters was also included.
Melbourne Water, working with EPA and the duty holder, DGL, deployed eduction trucks to syphon water from the drain system to limit the quantities flowing to the Creek.
Water testing on samples taken from Merlynston Creek showed elevated levels of chemicals and heavy metals potentially harmful to human and animal health.
Preparations for an investigation by EPA, FRV and other regulators into the circumstances of the fire are continuing and EPA will determine whether there were any breaches of DGL’s licence conditions or the EP Act 2017.
Updated