$18 Million Mining Shovel Damaged in Super Pit Fire as WorkSafe Investigates
$18 Million Mining Shovel Damaged in Super Pit Fire as WorkSafe Investigates
A fire involving one of Australia’s largest pieces of earthmoving equipment has provided another reminder of the potential consequences of machine fires around heavy equipment.
WorkSafe WA is investigating after a Komatsu PC8000 mining shovel was badly damaged by fire at Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit in Western Australia.
The incident happened during night shift on 9 September 2026 while the 750-tonne machine was operating in the Oroya Brownhill section of the mine. ABC News
Importantly, no one was injured.
The cause of the fire had not been publicly disclosed when the incident was reported, and both WorkSafe WA and mine owner Northern Star Resources were investigating the circumstances. ABC News
That means it is important not to speculate about what caused this particular incident.
What it does provide, however, is an opportunity for contractors to think about fire prevention and emergency preparation around their own machines.
One Very Expensive Piece of Equipment
The scale of the machine involved makes the incident particularly striking.
According to Northern Star, the Komatsu PC8000 has an estimated replacement value of around $18 million.
The machine has a fuel capacity of approximately 13,900 litres of diesel and can move about 68.5 tonnes of material in a single bucket. ABC News
The damaged shovel was one of four PC8000 machines operating in the Super Pit fleet.
Northern Star said the affected machine had already been due for retirement in November 2026 and contingency plans had been activated following the incident. ABC News
Machine Fires Aren’t Only a Mining Problem
Most Earthworks Hub readers aren’t operating a 750-tonne mining shovel.
But the underlying issue applies to equipment of every size.
Excavators, loaders, dozers, skid steers, dump trucks and other earthmoving equipment combine:
fuel, oils, hydraulic systems, electrical components and extremely high operating temperatures.
Add dry grass, dust, debris or material collecting around hot components and the potential fire risk can increase.
That’s why machine inspection and housekeeping should be treated as more than simply maintenance issues.
They are also safety issues.
What Contractors Should Be Checking
Regular servicing remains important, but operators should also be looking over their machines between services.
Areas worth monitoring can include:
hydraulic hoses and fittings
fuel lines
electrical wiring
battery connections
oil or fuel leaks
exhaust and other hot surfaces
engine bays
accumulated dirt, grass and debris
damaged hoses or protective covers
fire extinguishers and suppression systems where fitted.
A small leak or damaged electrical component may be easier and cheaper to address in the workshop than once the machine is working under load on a job.
Would You Know What to Do If a Machine Caught Fire?
There is another side to machine-fire safety that businesses should consider — what happens after a fire begins.
Operators should understand their site’s emergency procedures and know how to safely shut down and evacuate equipment where possible.
Businesses should also consider whether appropriate fire extinguishers or suppression systems are installed, whether they are being inspected and whether operators actually know how to use them.
Most importantly, an operator’s safety comes before the machine.
Heavy equipment is replaceable.
People aren’t.
Fire Prevention Also Protects the Business
Even when nobody is injured, a major machine fire can create enormous disruption.
There can be equipment replacement costs, lost production, recovery expenses, insurance claims and potentially weeks or months without a critical piece of machinery.
For smaller contractors with only one or two primary machines, losing an excavator or loader could effectively stop the business from operating.
That makes preventative maintenance and daily inspections not only a safety measure but also basic business risk management.
The Investigation Continues
WorkSafe WA confirmed it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the Super Pit incident.
Northern Star said its own investigation was also underway so lessons from the incident could be identified and processes strengthened. ABC News
Until those investigations are completed, the cause should not be assumed.
But the photographs of a badly damaged $18 million machine are a powerful reminder for contractors of every size:
Take leaks, damaged wiring, contaminated engine bays and fire-prevention equipment seriously.
Five minutes checking a machine at the beginning or end of the day can be far easier than dealing with the consequences of a fire.
Source: ABC Goldfields / Northern Star Resources / WorkSafe WA reporting, September 2026.
$18 Million Mining Shovel Damaged in Super Pit Fire as WorkSafe Investigates
$18 Million Mining Shovel Damaged in Super Pit Fire as WorkSafe Investigates
$18 Million Mining Shovel Damaged in Super Pit Fire as WorkSafe Investigates
A fire involving one of Australia’s largest pieces of earthmoving equipment has provided another reminder of the potential consequences of machine fires around heavy equipment.
WorkSafe WA is investigating after a Komatsu PC8000 mining shovel was badly damaged by fire at Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit in Western Australia.
The incident happened during night shift on 9 September 2026 while the 750-tonne machine was operating in the Oroya Brownhill section of the mine. ABC News
Importantly, no one was injured.
The cause of the fire had not been publicly disclosed when the incident was reported, and both WorkSafe WA and mine owner Northern Star Resources were investigating the circumstances. ABC News
That means it is important not to speculate about what caused this particular incident.
What it does provide, however, is an opportunity for contractors to think about fire prevention and emergency preparation around their own machines.
One Very Expensive Piece of Equipment
The scale of the machine involved makes the incident particularly striking.
According to Northern Star, the Komatsu PC8000 has an estimated replacement value of around $18 million.
The machine has a fuel capacity of approximately 13,900 litres of diesel and can move about 68.5 tonnes of material in a single bucket. ABC News
The damaged shovel was one of four PC8000 machines operating in the Super Pit fleet.
Northern Star said the affected machine had already been due for retirement in November 2026 and contingency plans had been activated following the incident. ABC News
Machine Fires Aren’t Only a Mining Problem
Most Earthworks Hub readers aren’t operating a 750-tonne mining shovel.
But the underlying issue applies to equipment of every size.
Excavators, loaders, dozers, skid steers, dump trucks and other earthmoving equipment combine:
fuel, oils, hydraulic systems, electrical components and extremely high operating temperatures.
Add dry grass, dust, debris or material collecting around hot components and the potential fire risk can increase.
That’s why machine inspection and housekeeping should be treated as more than simply maintenance issues.
They are also safety issues.
What Contractors Should Be Checking
Regular servicing remains important, but operators should also be looking over their machines between services.
Areas worth monitoring can include:
A small leak or damaged electrical component may be easier and cheaper to address in the workshop than once the machine is working under load on a job.
Would You Know What to Do If a Machine Caught Fire?
There is another side to machine-fire safety that businesses should consider — what happens after a fire begins.
Operators should understand their site’s emergency procedures and know how to safely shut down and evacuate equipment where possible.
Businesses should also consider whether appropriate fire extinguishers or suppression systems are installed, whether they are being inspected and whether operators actually know how to use them.
Most importantly, an operator’s safety comes before the machine.
Heavy equipment is replaceable.
People aren’t.
Fire Prevention Also Protects the Business
Even when nobody is injured, a major machine fire can create enormous disruption.
There can be equipment replacement costs, lost production, recovery expenses, insurance claims and potentially weeks or months without a critical piece of machinery.
For smaller contractors with only one or two primary machines, losing an excavator or loader could effectively stop the business from operating.
That makes preventative maintenance and daily inspections not only a safety measure but also basic business risk management.
The Investigation Continues
WorkSafe WA confirmed it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the Super Pit incident.
Northern Star said its own investigation was also underway so lessons from the incident could be identified and processes strengthened. ABC News
Until those investigations are completed, the cause should not be assumed.
But the photographs of a badly damaged $18 million machine are a powerful reminder for contractors of every size:
Take leaks, damaged wiring, contaminated engine bays and fire-prevention equipment seriously.
Five minutes checking a machine at the beginning or end of the day can be far easier than dealing with the consequences of a fire.
Source: ABC Goldfields / Northern Star Resources / WorkSafe WA reporting, September 2026.
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