The operators of the Hazelwood mine didn't see models showing it could be threatened by bushfires. Source: AAP
MINE workers were told not to expect help from the Country Fire Authority as they prepared to battle a blaze in a Victorian coal mine, an inquiry has heard.
The Hazelwood mine's services superintendent David Shanahan said he saw no CFA presence at the mine as he recorded smouldering and flames on February 9, apart from one fixed-wing aircraft that dropped retardant on the site.
He told an inquiry into the 45-day blaze that non-essential sprinklers were turned off in disused areas of the mine so water could be conserved to protect the mine's critical infrastructure.
After noticing a blaze on the mine's disused northern batters [sloping mine walls], he attempted to create a "protective wall of water" by spraying the area, before attending a meeting where he said it was discussed that the CFA had not responded.
"It was mentioned, don't expect to see a lot of support given the priorities the CFA had on them at the time," Mr Shanahan said on Tuesday.
"We were still waiting to get response from the CFA.
"We knew they had some bigger issues with defending the town of Morwell."
He said someone at the meeting had had contact with the CFA but he didn't know who.
Counsel assisting the inquiry Peter Rozen read a statement from Mr Shanahan on the lack of CFA presence.
"You say that you didn't see any CFA personnel in or around the incident control centre at that time and up until this point did not see any CFA trucks within the mine throughout the entire afternoon," Mr Rozen said.
Mr Shanahan said this was correct.
He said resources had initially been diverted away from the disused northern batters, which is where the fire took hold.
"There was a decision made to turn off some of the area that didn't impact the assets," Mr Shanahan said.
"The decision was made with the limited number of people still available. I went across there myself and turned off some of those unnecessary sprays to try and get more water into the critical infrastructure areas."
Mr Shanahan had been in his job barely a week when the fire broke out in the mine.
The inquiry earlier heard mine operators were not given access to state government modelling that showed the mine could come under threat from two nearby bushfires.
The fire in a disused section of the Hazelwood mine burned for 45 days from February 9 and shrouded the nearby town of Morwell in smoke and ash for weeks, forcing some residents to leave.
The inquiry continues.
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