Truck gutted by fire

By Brendan Rees

A truck carrying lettuce has burst into flames at a busy intersection in Clyde on Friday 27 March.

Firefighters from Cranbourne and Devon Meadows were called to the intersection of South Gippsland Highway and Manks Road about 11.40am where the truck’s cabin was well-alight.

Cranbourne CFA station officer Ugur Ali said it was believed the fire was caused by a mechanical fault in the five-tonne truck.

“He pulled up at the lights and he couldn’t get into gear … and he said he noticed smoke coming from the gear lever, he said.

The male driver escaped without injury and called triple-zero.

One lane was closed to traffic as eight firefighters contained the blaze which was brought under control within half-an-hour.

Police were also on scene assisting with traffic control.

A number of vehicles were behind the truck at the time as it attempted to turn onto the South Gippsland Highway.

A heavy haulage truck was organised to remove the fire-damaged truck.