One of Tasmania’s key power generation facilities has gone up in flames tonight, with Tungatinah Power Station at Tarraleah reportedly “fully ablaze”.
Multiple fire crews are racing to the remote site around two and a half hours from Hobart.
The Tasmania Fire Service says there is no threat to the general public but is urging people to stay away from the immediate area.
A structure fire at the station was reported just before 9pm and crews were soon dispatched from volunteer fire stations across the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands, along with career crews from Hobart and Bridgewater.
Units from New Norfolk, Bushy Park, Gretna, Hamilton, Ouse, Great Lake and Bradys Lake are among those responding.
Aerial platform vehicles have been dispatched from both Hobart and Launceston.
Pulse understands no one is believed to have been on site when the fire broke out and Hydro Tasmania has no concerns around energy security at this stage.
The Australian Energy Market Operator issued a notice at 10:08pm confirming the Tungatinah 110kV substation tripped at 9pm due to fire on site.
AEMO said it did not instruct load shedding and has been advised of the disconnection of around 2 MW of electrical load.
Tungatinah is the newer of the two hydropower stations at Tarraleah and one of 10 major power stations in the Derwent hydropower system.
It generates 142.2 MW, accounting for around 6% of the state’s power supply.
Five massive penstocks pass under the Lyell Highway just outside Tarraleah, carrying water to drive five turbines inside the station.
TasNetworks is reporting five separate outages across the area, leaving a total of 351 customers without power.
Properties across Tarraleah, Bradys Lake, Bronte Park, Dee, London Lakes, Victoria Valley, Derwent Bridge and Lake St Clair are affected, with restoration times yet to be confirmed and long delays expected.
The power station was commissioned in 1956 as part of the broader Derwent scheme.
It had only recently opened its doors for rare public tours in March, when Hydro Tasmania guided visitors through the turbine halls and generating rooms.
