A worker injured in Melbourne's toxic waste factory blaze is recovering in hospital as firefighters continue to extinguish hot spots.
Vignesh Varatharaja is in a serious but stable condition on Saturday after the chemical drum he was pumping at a Campbellfield factory a day earlier exploded and started burning, setting his body on fire.
His co-worker unsuccessfully tried to stop the fire using a broken fire hose, The Australian Workers Union (AWU) says.
Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) crews are using heavy machinery to pull apart remaining materials and get to hot spots still smouldering.
The Migrants Workers Centre has raised more than $15,000 to help meet upfront costs associated with Mr Varatharaja's recovery.
Mr Varatharaja is a refugee who came to Australia in 2013 after the Sri Lankan civil war.
AWU members had raised concerns about unsatisfactory occupational health and safety conditions in the factory last year, the centre said.
The blaze at Bradbury Industrial Services Pty started about 6.40am on Friday and sent a toxic black plume over Melbourne.
It was brought under control by midday on Friday but is expected to smoulder for days.
It took more than 175 firefighters to bring the fire under control on Friday, and about 30 firefighters and 11 appliances remain on site on Saturday.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has advised residents to stay away from the area, and for people and pets to avoid water from Merlynston Creek, the National Business Park wetlands, and Jack Roper Reserve.
The EPA says the factory had its licence suspended on March 20 after an inspection found liquid waste exceeded the amount permitted under its licence.
The factory had allegedly been storing almost three times the quantity of chemical permitted, Fairfax reports.
The factory was banned from accepting additional waste until it had processed enough of its existing waste, the EPA says.
The Victorian coroner will investigate the cause of the blaze, and Premier Daniel Andrews has said there were no suspicious circumstances.
Smoke in the area has substantially reduced, but affected residents should take shelter indoors, turn off their heating and air-conditioning, and seek medical advice if necessary.
A community meeting will be held on Sunday at 11am in Broadmeadows.
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