B-double carrying aerosol cans explodes and destroyed by fire at Pimlico, near Ballina

A truck carrying tonnes of aerosol cans has been gutted in a fireball near Ballina. See the dramatic photos from the scene.

The fire rips through the vehicle. Picture: Jackson Whitney

A B-double truck carrying six tonnes of aerosol spray paint cans was enveloped in a fireball which forced the partial closure of the Pacific Motorway at Pimlico, just south of Ballina, overnight.

The driver was uninjured after managing to jump clear of the prime mover, as firefighters, police and ambulance officers attended a wild scene rocked by numerous explosions.

The truck and its trailers were destroyed in the inferno, which was so intense the highway surface itself appeared to be on fire.

Fire and Rescue NSW said the incident started at 11.22pm when the B-double carrying mixed-use dangerous goods caught alight.

The Pacific Motorway was littered with exploding spray paint cans as firefighters work to bring the blaze under control. Picture: Jackson Whitney

As well as thousands of aerosol spray paint cans, the load included cane mulch and gravel bags.

Three Fire and Rescue trucks from Ballina, a hazardous materials unit from Goonellabah and Rural Fire Service units fought for hours to control the blaze, which was extinguished just after 3am.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus attacked the truck fire with two large hoselines. Picture: Jackson Whitney

Firefighters were able to drain 400 litres of diesel from the stricken prime mover, and used special absorbent materials to suck up chemical residue from the motorway surface.

The prime mover and trailers were completely destroyed. Picture: Jackson Whitney

The incident forced the closure of the southbound lanes, and restricted traffic to a single lane northbound.

One of two southbound lanes remains closed as a salvage operation is underway.

There was a concern the fire could ignite surrounding bushland however firefighters prevented this threat.