Warrego Highway closed near Miles at Columboola after trailer fire

Emergency services were called to the Warrego Highway after a trailer carrying hand sanitiser caught fire, but the clean-up may take a while. Here’s why.

The Warrego Highway was closed for hours on Tuesday, after a truck carrying hand sanitiser caught fire.

Acting Inspector Peter McCarron was on scene at the incident, at Columboola, 13km west of Miles.

Inspector McCarron said the truck fire was reported at 12.36pm on Tuesday afternoon, and crews were still battling the last of the blaze six hours later.

While the cause of the blaze was still unknown, Inspector McCarron said the driver was able to disconnect the truck from the trailer, after the trailer caught fire.

Inspector McCarron said the crews on scene battled subsequent grass fires, along side the trailer fire.

By 5.30pm, the blaze was all but extinguished, but the plastic from the hand sanitiser containers had melted and adhered to the roadway, posing difficulties to the truck’s removal.

Fire crews fought a blaze on the Warrego Highway for hours, after a hand sanitiser truck caught alight on Tuesday afternoon between Chinchilla and Miles. Photo: Jacklyn O’Brien.

Original Story

A stretch of the Warrego Highway was closed after a trailer carrying a dangerous substance caught fire.

The highway was closed for a 1km stretch between Ryalls Rd and Kerwicks Rd at Columboola, between Miles and Chinchilla.

Emergency services responded to the incident on the Warrego Highway, 13km west of Miles at 12.36pm on Tuesday.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said a truck trailer caught fire, which caused a grass fire in the area.

There are three fire and rescue crews and multiple rural fire crews on scene fighting the fires.

The spokesman said that while the blaze is under control, it is expected to be at least another few hours before the fire is completely extinguished. Fire crews assert there is no threat as a result of the grass fire, which stretches almost 400m.

The spokesman said the truck driver reportedly disconnected the truck from the trailer after the trailer caught fire.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said the driver did not report any injuries, but paramedics remain on scene.

A Queensland Police spokesman said the highway is expected to remain closed for the next couple of hours, as fire crews continue to battle the blaze.