GRAINCORP’S Murtoa site has reopened after being closed because of a fire yesterday.
The fire, which is believed to have started in an underground grain elevator and caused the evacuation of the site and a neighbouring school, was contained by emergency services.
GrainCorp officials say the fire will have little operational impact and that all bunkers are reopened today.
At this stage, the spokesman said the company had not had the chance to assess the damage or when the site would reopen.
It is not known how much grain has been damaged or what the damage to the impacted silos will be.
Murtoa is one of GrainCorp’s major upcountry site in Victoria.
The fire occured on a scorching day, with the temperature hitting 41.6 degrees at Longerenong, the nearest Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) weather station to Murtoa, at 3.30pm.
A total fire ban for the north-west of the State and a high Fire Danger Index (FDI) meant farmers were sent directives by local fire authorities to stop harvest so the impact of the closure will not be as severe as it would have if harvesting was in full swing.