Police revoke exclusion zone after chemical fire shut down Qld highway

A major regional road link has reopened after a fire involving chemical trailers sparked police to set up an exclusion zone. SEE THE VIDEO

The site of a chemical fire near Charleville on Sunday morning.

Police have revoked an emergency exclusion zone which cut off a major regional highway in southwestern Queensland.

Queensland Police removed the exclusion zone surrounding Baker’s Bend on the Mitchell Highway on Monday afternoon following an intensive clean up operation of a large-scale trailer fire.

Emergency services were called to Baker’s Bend near Charleville, about 950km west of Brisbane, about 6.30am on Sunday morning after reports of “two chemical trailers on fire”.

In a video posted to social media, black smoke can be seen billowing from the two trailers well alight.

Police declared a 20km exclusion zone covering parts of the Mitchell Highway and surrounding areas at 8:59am on Sunday.

A large section of the Mitchell Highway near the Angellela Creek bridge was impacted.

Motorists and members of the public were advised to avoid the area and residents within the exclusion zone were told to leave immediately.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Superintendent Brad Stockwell said a mixed load of industrial chemicals on a B-double trailer had caught fire.

The two trailers were "consumed in fire" and were contained around 8am on Monday.

"Including acetylene cylinders and oxygen cylinders and mixed industrial chemicals, the B-double were involved in fire, the prime mover was disengaged from the trailers and the driver sustained no injuries," he said.

Supt Stockwell said, as a precaution, a 1km exclusion zone was established and diversions were put in place between Charleville and Cunnamulla.

"The Mitchell Highway is closed in both directions between Charleville and Cunnamulla," he said.

"We are treating this as a serious hazardous material situation and the mixed load on the truck includes incompatible substances.

"Currently the fire has been controlled and we are in collaboration with our specialist hazmat units; Queensland Police and Queensland Ambulance are assessing the scene for safety."

Supt Stockwell said the road would remain closed for 24 hours as crews work to clear the scene.

"The road will be closed for another 24 hours. We have to wait for the cylinders to cool down before we can safely remove them," he said.

Earlier, a Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said eight crews attended the scene where they found two trailers, reportedly carrying oxygen and another flammable chemical, engulfed in flames.

An exclusion zone was declared at 8.59am encompassing Baker’s Bend, causing the closure of Mitchell Highway near the Angellala Creek bridge.

Originally published as Police revoke exclusion zone after chemical fire shut down Qld highway