Fire threatens BHP's Worsley Alumina mining site

A bushfire is hampering mining operations for BHP Billiton and Newmont Mining at two sites south of Perth.

The mining giants are closely monitoring an out of control bushfire which has burned more than 30,000 hectares in the south west of Western Australia.

A house has been destroyed and about 50 firefighters are creating containment lines.

A Newmont Mining spokesman said the company's Boddington gold and copper processing operations had experienced power interruptions after a power supply line was damaged by fire.

But he said all other operations were continuing as normal.

"It's not major for us, it just means there's been a halt in the milling," the spokesman said.

"The fire's moving slowly east, away from us."

Around 50 firefighters from interstate are using Newmont's mine site village as a base, about 15 kilometres from the fire front.

BHP's bauxite mining operations have been scaled back due to smoke in the Boddington area.

"The mine and its infrastructure are being constantly monitored," Worsley Alumina Asset President Michael Rix said.

Worsley emergency response team members, employees and equipment were supporting efforts to control the fires and protect infrastructure, he said.

Refining operations at BHP's Worsley alumina site near Collie had not been affected.

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