VICTORIA'S environmental watchdog has launched an investigation into possible contamination surrounding the CFA training centre at Wangaratta.
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The North East site is one of six across Victoria being probed by the EPA over contamination from perflurooctane sulfonate (PFOS), an ingredient used in firefighting foams up to 2007.
EPA executive director of regional services Damian Wells said the scrutiny followed contamination concerns at the CFA's state training centre at Fiskville.
"There have been some levels of contamination detected at all the sites to some level, but we're talking about on-site contamination orders of magnitude less than Fiskville,” Mr Wells said.
He said the CFA would engage experts to study groundwater bores and the Three Mile Creek outside the Wangaratta training ground and results were expected within weeks.
If any contamination was discovered a plan would be implemented to tackle it.
"We don't believe there is any reason for anyone in and around the Wangaratta facility to have concerns,” Mr Wells said.
"If we have a test result that does raise concerns we will engage directly with people."
Mr Wells said North East Water had found there was no risk to Wangaratta's drinking water which comes from a deeper aquifer than the shallow aquifers surrounding the training site.
Residents can call the EPA on 1300 372 842 or visit www.epa.vic.gov.au/cfa for info.
