Truck fire on the M5 at Ingleburn
Published: 19th May 2007
Firefighters from St Andrews, Ingleburn, Campbelltown and Horningsea Park responded to the first of numerous Triple Zero (000) calls to a truck alight on the M5 at Ingleburn. On arrival firefighters were confronted with a B double semi trailer with an unknown load well alight and stationary across both northbound lanes of the M5. Fire crews got to work with fire hoses while other firefighters found nearby water hydrants. The truck driver had managed to escape the burning truck and informed firefighters that the truck was carrying food products, automotive products, a number of small dangerous goods and a 30kg box of compressed oxygen. The quantities and locations of the products were not known, which increased the potential risks for crews fighting the blaze. Police and RTA assistance was requested to divert north and southbound traffic from the area until the fire could be brought under control and the debris cleared. A short time later a large explosion occurred which was later confirmed to be a 30 kg compressed oxygen cylinder. This explosion and the debris