A trailer incident on the Bruce Highway near Bowen threatens traffic

A towed trailer has caused a grass fire by the side of the Bruce Highway that threatens traffic going into a North Queensland town. Here’s what we know.

A fire truck returns to Finch Hatton to refill with water. QFES generic

A towed trailer has caused a grass fire by the side of the Bruce Highway that threatens traffic going into a North Queensland town.

Emergency services including the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and local Rural Fire Brigades responded to a stretch of the Bruce Highway near Hideaway Bay after it was reported a traffic incident had caused a fire on the side of the highway.

Initially called into police as a traffic hazard, bystanders reported that a trailer’s tyre had come off while being towed on the highway and was subsequently shot into grass by the side of the highway, where it combusted causing a grassfire.

A QFES spokesman confirmed that two crews arrived on the scene before 3.40pm and began working on the fire.

It is understood the trailer is on its side near the side of the road still attached to the vehicle.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed no one has been injured in the incident.

Police arrived on the scene shortly after 3.40pm to provide traffic control.

Currently both lanes of the Bruce Highway remain open.

The incident comes one day after four were injured in a truck v car collision and one man was hospitalised in a rollover on the Bruce Highway.

More to come 

Originally published as A trailer incident on the Bruce Highway near Bowen threatens traffic