The Port of Mackay, with GrainCorp’s silos at far right. File photo: North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation

INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into the cause of a fire that broke out at GrainCorp’s Port of Mackay facility on Monday night.

Emergency services were called to the scene at about 6.15pm following reports of a fire at the top of three grain silos.

Queensland Police set up traffic diversions and declared an exclusion zone under the provisions of the Public Safety Preservation Act.

Emergency services evacuated the area, with no injuries reported.

The exclusion zone was lifted at about 8.30pm on Monday.

Grain Central understands the blaze was contained to the conveyor-belt system.

It is believed the silos were holding a volume of chickpeas at the time of the incident, but no grain was impacted by the fire.

In a statement, GrainCorp commended firefighters and police for their swift response in controlling the fire and ensuring everyone’s safety.

“Local emergency services were very quick to respond, and we want to thank the fire brigade and the police department for their actions,” the statement said.

“Importantly, all of our team on site are safe and no-one was injured or impacted by the fire.”

The incident also had a minimal impact on the wider operations at the Port of Mackay.

A spokesperson for North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, which oversees operations, said there was no damage to infrastructure outside the GrainCorp facilities.

“The port returned to normal operations Monday night and no material impacts on trade are expected at this stage,” the spokesperson said.

GrainCorp, alongside Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, is investigating the cause of the fire.

“The fire was put out on the night, and emergency services have handed the site back to us, and we’re investigating the incident.”

A spokesperson Workplace Health and Safety Queensland said they were “making inquiries into an incident making inquiries into an incident” and the investigation remained ongoing.

GrainCorp has this morning recommenced operations at the site, including loading 10,000 tonnes of chickpeas on to the vessel Velvet.