Dramatic fire at Boyer mill

Smoke rising from the fire in the woodchip
conveyor system at Boyer today.

THERE were dramatic scenes at the Boyer newsprint mill this afternoon when a fire broke out in the woodchip conveyor system.

Units from local fire brigades were soon on the scene at the Norske Skog plant outside New Norfolk, but the location of the fire in a tower about 35m above the ground, required the use of the Hobart Fire Brigade's snorkel unit.

Reported to the emergency services just after 3pm, the incident was initially thought to have been a bushfire by some onlookers.

Multiple resources were dispatched from several fire brigades, including two heavy pumpers, three heavy tankers, two light tankers, a hydraulic platform (snorkel) and several other vehicles at one point. This was in addition to the company's own emergency response staff.

The Tasmania Fire Service reported the incident closed five hours after it was first reported. At the time of writing there has been no statement about the damage sustained at the mill or any disruption to production.

The mill produces newsprint for Australia's newspaper publishers and high-grade paper for books and magazines, made from plantation radiata pine.

A jet of water being directed onto the woodchip fire high above the ground.