Firefighters respond to carbon monoxide exposure

Fire Recue Victoria (FRV) responded to a carbon monoxide leak at a pork processing plant in Derrimut this afternoon.

Firefighters arrived at the Benn Court scene to find 60 people had evacuated from the factory, with multiple people suffering the effects of carbon monoxide exposure.

FRV crews assisted by applying oxygen therapy to the patients until Ambulance Victoria arrived on scene.

Firefighters donned breathing apparatus and entered the factory with gas detectors to take readings and assess the situation.

It was found that the carbon monoxide readings inside the building were still dangerously high.

Crews ventilated the building until the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dropped to safe levels.

The leak was found to have come from some meat preservation machinery. The incident was declared under control at 01:41pm, 49 minutes after FRV arrived on scene.

WorkSafe have been notified of the incident.