MELBOURNE — A major emergency operation is underway north of Melbourne after a ferocious inferno completely gutted an industrial facility late on Tuesday night, June 9, 2026, triggering a series of massive explosions that terrified the local community.

More than 70 firefighters were rushed to the Campbell field facility after emergency services were inundated with multiple triple-zero calls from concerned members of the public reporting a massive blaze and structural collapses.

Crews arrived to find the complex completely engulfed in flames, with the intense heat sparking volatile explosions of flammable items stored within the facility.

The fire threatened to spiral further out of control as it rapidly approached a neighboring paint supply business, which contained heavily combustible materials. Firefighters aggressively attacked the perimeter of the blaze, working through the night in highly hazardous conditions to prevent the inferno from breaching the adjacent property.

Thick plumes of dark smoke and hazardous chemical fumes blanketed the area, forcing emergency services to issue urgent warnings to surrounding residential and industrial sectors.

While specialized crews successfully contained the perimeter of the fire, the incident remains active. Significant hazmat teams and fire crews are remaining on the scene to manage deep-seated hot spots, suppress toxic smoke, and monitor air quality due to the reported chemical fumes.

The exact cause of the initial ignition is currently unknown. WorkSafe Victoria and forensic fire investigators will launch a comprehensive investigation into the structural integrity of the facility and the origin of the blaze as soon as the site is deemed safe to enter.

Motorists and residents have been advised to keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning units, and avoid the immediate Campbell field industrial precinct while emergency operations continue.