Truck transporting paint cans engulfed in flames on M5 Hume Highway

The likely cause of a dramatic southwest Sydney truck fire has been revealed, after it took six hours for firefighters and hazmat crews to get under control and clean.

A truck transporting paint caught fire overnight on the Hume Highway.

The likely cause of a dramatic southwest Sydney truck fire has been revealed, after it took six hours for firefighters and hazmat crews to get under control and clean.

In the early hours of Monday, Fire and Rescue NSW responded to reports of a truck fire on the Hume Highway near the Brooks Rd exit in Ingleburn.

Flames quickly engulfed the driver’s cabin and spread to the attached trailer, which was loaded with highly flammable paint cans.

The blaze resulted in large amounts of paint and diesel fuel spilling onto the highway, forcing authorities to close three out of four lanes as emergency crews worked at the scene.

Three out of four lanes were closed on the Hume Highway for over 6 hours while authorities responded to the incident. Picture: Facebook

Firefighters managed to contain the fire within an hour, prior to the flames spreading into the next trailer.

However, the fire completely destroyed the front of half of the truck. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Firefighters managed to contain the flames within an hour, prior to the flames spreading into the next trailer. Picture: Facebook

The fire however completely destroyed the front of half of the truck. Picture: NSW RFS

NSW Rural Fire Service and police assisted at the scene, while hazmat specialists and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) spent over five hours cleaning up hazardous materials.

NSW Rural Fire Service and police assisted at the scene, while hazmat specialists and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) spent over five hours cleaning up hazardous materials. Picture: NSW RFS

Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman Adam Dewberry said investigations into the cause of the incident were ongoing.

However, he said a mechanical failure was being considered a likely factor, which is “not uncommon”.