Firefighters battle intense feed mill blaze near Newcastle

Crews evacuate four workers as temperatures hit 500 degrees Celsius at Cardiff facility

By LineZotpaper

Published17 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Dozens of firefighters are battling an intense blaze at a feed mill in Cardiff, near Newcastle, after a fire started in a dust control vent and spread through exhaust ducts, with internal temperatures reaching 500 degrees Celsius.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to the feed mill on Nelson Road just after 10am on Saturday, with up to 50 firefighters now working alongside engineers to extinguish the fire.

Zone commander for the Lower Hunter, James Manuao, said crews responded to an automatic fire alarm and found four people on site, who were moved to safety.

"We located a small fire at the top of the dust extraction system," Mr Manuao said. "Due to good work from our firies, they've managed to get onto that fast, they've attacked that and doused that fire."

However, concerns remain about heat travelling down through the ducting system to where the grain grinder is located. The original fire reached temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius, while the temperature near the grinder, which crews had not yet reached, was about 500 degrees Celsius.

"We are concerned there is fire still propagating down the bottom. We are slowly working our way through this, we are maintaining our safety, we've got exclusion zones in place, we will have this under control in a few hours," Mr Manuao said.

Crews are being regularly rotated to manage welfare during what Mr Manuao described as "a long and arduous job."

All stormwater drains in the area have been shut off to prevent runoff, and the Environmental Protection Authority is being kept informed. Firefighters believe the blaze has not spread to other silos on the site.

Mr Manuao said it was too early to determine how the fire started.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The fire poses immediate risks to workers and nearby residents, with intense heat and potential for further spread.
Environmental safeguards have been activated to prevent contamination from runoff.
The incident highlights safety vulnerabilities in industrial dust extraction systems, which are common in agricultural processing facilities.

Background

Feed mills process grains and produce dust that can be highly combustible. Fires in dust extraction systems are a known industrial hazard, often requiring careful, methodical suppression to avoid igniting stored grain or spreading through ductwork. The Cardiff facility is located in a mixed industrial and residential area of Newcastle's western suburbs.

Key Perspectives

Fire and Rescue NSW: The priority is extinguishing the fire safely while protecting personnel and preventing escalation to other parts of the facility. Crews are working methodically through the ducting system and monitoring temperatures.

Environmental Protection Authority: Authorities are coordinating to ensure contaminated firefighting runoff does not enter stormwater systems or the surrounding environment.

Site Management: The feed mill operator is working with firefighters to understand the layout and risks, though the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

What to Watch

Whether the fire reaches the grain grinder area, where temperatures are highest.
Any impact on air quality or water runoff in surrounding suburbs.
The outcome of the EPA's monitoring and any subsequent investigation into the blaze's origin.

Sources

Firefighters battle out-of-control blaze at NSW feed mill — Just In