Hazelwood coal mine fire inquiry re-opens

The Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry has re-opened with expanded terms of reference covering all three of the Latrobe Valley's major coal mines.

The Andrews government pledged to re-open the inquiry into the early-2014 coal mine fire - which blanketed the Victorian town of Morwell in toxic smoke and ash for 45 days - after data emerged showing a corresponding spike in deaths.

The inquiry, which officially re-opened on Tuesday and is again chaired by Bernard Teague, will report on related health impacts by December and also on mine rehabilitation options at the Hazelwood, Yallourn and Loy Yang coal mines by March 2016.