An ambulance enters the mine site, where 19 workers were evacuated following an underground fire yesterday. PICTURE: ADAM TRAFFORD
AN underground fire at a Mount Clear mine yesterday afternoon forced the evacuation of 19 workers.
The blaze started when a haul truck inside the mine caught fire 428 metres from the surface about 3.15pm, forcing workers to shelter in fresh-air bases.
The fire was contained by sprinklers inside the mine.
Firefighters and police attended the scene at the Ballarat Gold Project on Woolshed Gully Drive to assist the mine's emergency response team.
Workers were eventually evacuated eight at a time.
Paramedics were also on the scene on standby in case of injury.
Ballarat Mine general manager Lance Faulkner said there had been no injuries and all workers were safe and accounted for.
CFA spokesperson Gavin Hope said the incident could have been more serious if not for the company's safety drills.
"It looks like those procedures were followed to a tee and worked well," he said.
It is unknown what caused the fire. Mr Faulkner said the company would undertake a full incident investigation.