NSW RFS, ACT Fire and Rescue, and local police were called to a fire along the Barton Highway near Spring Range Road last Friday after a dump truck caught fire around noon.
Thankfully, no one was injured and the fire caused no traffic delays as the truck was located on the construction site of the highway’s duplication.
Belconnen Fire and Rescue Station Officer Ben Brown said upon arrival the cab was well alight and NSW RFS crews were working to extinguish the blaze.
The Fire and Rescue Crew provided the use of a monitor on the scene, a device that provides a large amount of water, assisting local RFS crews.
“If we use the monitor, that means we’re putting big water on this thing so it would have taken a little bit to put it out.”
A NSW RFS spokesperson said four trucks arrived on the scene shortly before 12:20pm on March 25 and signalled the fire, which began in the engine bay, had been extinguished at about 1:30pm.
“The safety officer on site determined the cause of the fire was mechanical or electrical issues with the truck.”
The work to duplicate the highway to improve safety and travel times for local commuters, tourists and freight operators started in 2020. The Australian and NSW governments have committed $150m and $50m, respectively, towards the upgrade of the highway.
More than 65,000 cubic metres of earthwork – the equivalent of 130,000 trailer loads – have been completed so far the NSW Transport’s executive director of community Anthony Hayes said recently in an interview with the Canberra Times.
By Brianna O’Rourke
