North Mackay traffic redirected as flames engulf truck cab on Sams Rd

Fire crews battled to extinguish the blaze engulfing the cab of a prime mover in North Mackay as hundreds of cars were redirected.

Fire crews battled to extinguish the blaze that had fully engulfed the cab of a prime mover in North Mackay.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said four crews were called to the scene at the intersection of Sams Road and Glenpark Street about 12.35pm.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said crews found the fire “well involved on arrival” but managed to extinguish it by 12.50pm. Picture: Lillian Watkins

The spokesman said crews found the fire “well-involved on arrival” but managed to extinguish it by 12.50pm.

The driver of the truck managed to escape unscathed and Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics assessed him at the scene.

A truck cab was fully engulfed in flames on the intersection of Sams Rd and Glenpark St North Mackay, July 2021. Picture: Lillian Watkins

A QAS spokeswoman said the driver did not have any injuries and was not taken to hospital.

North Mackay resident Peter Faletti said it was the smell that roused him to look over his back fence.

“It looked terrible, frickin’ horrible when you see something burn like that.” Picture: Lillian Watkins

“I live just behind here, I thought it was fibreglass getting burnt,” Mr Faletti said.

“That was until I saw a big plume of black smoke.

“It looked terrible, frickin’ horrible when you see something burn like that.”

Traffic was redirected along Malcomson St. Picture: Lillian Watkins

While the fire was extinguished within 10 minutes, traffic was redirected for at least two hours along Malcomson Street and fire crews made the scene safe and waited for a tow truck.

Two trucks were called to remove the cab and trailer separately.

The cab needed to be separated from the trailer for towing. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Fire crews continued to hose the cab of the truck as it was being loaded onto the tow truck.

The cause of the fire is still being determined.

Originally published as North Mackay traffic redirected as flames engulf truck cab on Sams Rd