| Status | Active |
|---|---|
| Incident date | 15 April 2026 |
| Locations affected | Geelong South, Norlane, Leopold, and Corio |
Incident summary
A major fire broke out at the Viva Energy Group facility in Corio late in the evening of 15 April, 2026 in the refinery’s Alkylation unit. The blaze took several hours to bring under control and was highly visible to the local community.
Smoke was largely blown across the bay but some community members reported smelling it in their homes. No reports of injury from either the fire or smoke impacts were reported.
EPA was immediately able to monitor local air quality through established monitoring sites but also placed additional monitoring stations to provide up-to-date air quality advice through the EPA’s publicly available AirWatch website.
Fires of this scale require large volumes of water to bring under control. While a significant volume of fire water was captured, some was also discharged into Corio Bay. Based on sampling and assessment, EPA determined there was no ongoing risk to recreational users and the risk of harm was low.
Once the fire was put out, Viva Energy considered options on how to dispose of the remaining captured fire water. After further testing and treatment, Viva Energy has completed a controlled discharge of fire water contained on their site into Corio Bay, where it has been assessed as safe to do so.
This discharge is permitted under Viva Energy’s existing operating licence and does not require separate EPA authorisation. EPA closely monitored the activity to ensure compliance with all environmental duties.
The refinery operates under EPA Licence OL000046555 for oil or gas refining (available at Public Register). An operating licence is EPA’s highest level of permission and is used for complex, high-risk activities.
EPA, FRV and WorkSafe and Energy Safe Victoria are now investigating the circumstances of the fire and whether any non-compliance was involved or breaches of the various Acts relevant to the site’s operation.
Our role
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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.
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Health information
Air quality during the fire posed a low risk to human health. Smoke and wind modelling showed that the plume was heading over Corio Bay and away from residential areas. Ground level air quality was largely not affected by the smoke. Air monitoring units in the area showed good air quality, with the four additional emergency response monitors removed on Tuesday 27 of April.
Water quality testing showed there was a low risk to human health. Alerts to avoid contact with water in Corio Bay were precautionary and removed following testing.
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Our response
EPA was contacted by Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) that a major fire had broken out in a section of the Viva Energy facility late on the evening of 15 April, 2026. The fire took more than 12 hours to bring under control and in that time a huge quantity of firewater was used, however, no foams were used in the firefight.
FRV issued health management advice through the Vic Emergency website including a stay inside and close doors and windows alert.
EPA has fixed air monitoring in the area. Air quality suffered minimal impacts with smoke from the fire largely blowing over the bay.
As the incident continued, EPA quickly set up additional air monitoring stations to cover Geelong South, Norlane, Leopold, Geelong Grammar and Corio that also continued to show minimal impacts from smoke.
Concerns that water quality in Corio Bay could have been affected by firewater runoff led to an alert issued for people to avoid contact with the water as a matter of precaution. EPA officers undertook visual inspections and reviewed sampling results from seven locations in Corio Bay.
Testing looked for hydrocarbons, heavy metals and other fire‑related contaminants. Results showed hydrocarbons were below detection limits and metal levels were consistent with normal background levels for Corio Bay. Based on this assessment, EPA determined there was no ongoing risk to recreational users. The water quality advisory to avoid contact with Corio Bay was removed on 23 April.
Further, Viva Energy undertook a controlled discharge of firewater contained at the site in accordance with their operating licence which has now ceased. . EPA has reviewed the regular testing and analysis undertaken to date by Viva and it is showing no ongoing risk to the environment and recreational bay users. EPA will continue to review and monitor these testing results.
EPA attended two community meetings to provide information regarding the incident response and expert advice on air and water quality.
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 Viva’s licence conditions or the EP Act 2017.
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