Spokeswoman Ursula Alquier said the fire was the result of neglect and demonstrated disregard for the health of local people at the nearby town of Morwell by the coal industry.

“This out-of-control fire is the result of years of the coal industry thumbing its nose at environmental regulation and the health interests of local people,” Alquier said.

“The site of this fire was supposed to have been remediated yet had been left to languish. It appears that there was no system in place to control a bush fire from getting out of control in this massive coal pit. Yet this area is prone to bush fires.

“The government is proposing the extraction of an additional 13 billion tonne of coal from the pits in the La Trobe Valley but it has demonstrated that it cannot protect local people from the impacts of mining.”

Authorties have warned that the fire at Hazelwood could rage for more than two weeks and possibly months.

Lock the Gate is getting reports from local people of ill health, sore eyes, severe asthma, sick children and sick pets, Alquier said.

“Ashes from the fire are raining down on the town of Morwell and people are fearful for their health and that of their children,” she said.

“Lock the Gate calls on the government to make coal mining companies accountable for their health and environmental impacts.”