WorkSafe investigates fire that engulfed $18 million shovel at Kalgoorlie Super Pit

Incident Overview

WorkSafe WA is investigating after a fire engulfed the driver’s cab of a heavy-duty mining shovel at Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit. No worker was injured.

ABC News reported on 13 September 2026 that the fire badly damaged a 750-tonne Komatsu PC8000 shovel, one of the largest mechanical shovels used at the gold mine. The machine has an estimated replacement cost of $18 million. The incident highlights the importance of effective emergency systems and incident review in high-risk workplaces. Workers injured in workplace incidents may wish to obtain advice about workers compensation options.

Workplace, Location and Time

The incident happened during a night shift on 9 September 2026 in the Oroya Brownhill section of Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit, about 600 kilometres east of Perth. The shovel was operating in the open pit when the fire began.

Worker and Incident Details

The Super Pit is owned by gold miner Northern Star Resources, while Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) operates the mine. KCGM activated its emergency response team, which extinguished the fire.

The cause of the fire has not been disclosed. Northern Star said the damaged shovel was due to be retired in November 2026 and that contingency plans had been put in place to cover the loss of the machine. The company also said the incident had not caused a material interruption to mine operations.

Injuries and Immediate Outcome

Northern Star confirmed that no-one was injured. The fire badly damaged the heavy mining equipment.

The Komatsu PC8000 has a 13,900-litre diesel fuel tank and can carry about 68.5 tonnes in a single bucket. The damaged machine was one of four PC8000 shovels in the Super Pit fleet.

Investigation and Mine Response

WorkSafe WA confirmed that it was aware of the incident and was investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire. Northern Star said KCGM was carrying out a detailed assessment so the mine could apply the lessons from the incident, strengthen its processes and continue safe operations.