While EPA has specifically monitored and reported the air quality impacts on Traralgon and Morwell from the Hazelwood open cut mine fire, we’ve monitored air quality in the Latrobe Valley for more than 30 years.
Monitoring is underway in various locations around the Valley enabling us to forecast, track and advise the community of smoke impacts on air quality, which are largely dependent on weather and wind conditions.
Data from our particle monitoring stations in Morwell and Traralgon, hand held carbon monoxide monitors and the small particle PM2.5 plume tracker, Travel Blanket, are provided to fire services and the Department of Health to inform their health-based decision making, so they can tell people what to do if they are at risk and how to take precautions.
We are capturing data on any weather and wind related smoke impacts on towns outside the direct impact zone in Morwell.
EPA issues twice daily smoke advisories and when necessary, alerts of immediate smoke impacts. These are sent to media including the local emergency broadcast radio stations, newspapers, fire services and public health officers. When necessary, as in the case of immediate smoke impacts, the community is directly informed by these services.
Small particles from the fire remain the primary health risk, you can conduct a simple self assessment based on visibility as outlined on EPA’s webpage http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/your-environment/air/bushfires-and-air-quality
We are part of the Victorian government’s emergency response to this fire, and there is information and assistance available online and in Morwell for those who are suffering
For information and advice about health impacts due to air quality visit the Department of Health
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/hazelwood/community-update.htm