Rio Tinto workers return to Wandoo camp after Pannawonica bushfire contained

Workers evacuated from a Rio Tinto mine camp have started to return to their rooms on Sunday afternoon after a fire near the Pilbara town of Pannawonica was downgraded. About 110 residents at the Wandoo Village Camp had been forced to leave on Saturday after a bushfire was sparked in the late afternoon. The State’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Rio Tinto’s emergency team responded to the blaze, which was believed to have been caused by a lightning strike. An emergency warning had been issued at 6pm leading to the major evacuation. A spokesman for Western Australia’s biggest iron ore miner said workers had been housed in temporary accommodation overnight. “The fire has since been downgraded by DFES and workers have been able to return to their rooms at Wandoo Village today,” he said. “We are very grateful for the support of DFES in containing this fire. “We continue to closely monitor the situation and take advice from emergency services.” It’s understood the nearby Mesa H mine operation — which is 15 kilometres away — was not evacuated. Mesa H is part of the Robe River Joint Venture with Mitsui and Nippon Steel.