Photos by ACFO Craig Brittain
CFA firefighters battled a recycling truck fire this morning at Colac which prompted a warning to the community to stay indoors.
CFA was called to the truck fire on the corner of Calvert Street and Queen Street at 7.14am today.
Firefighters found the rubbish in the recycling truck on fire and heavy haulage machinery was called to the scene to help lift the truck to empty its contents onto the ground.
CFA District 6 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Craig Brittain said the volunteer firefighters who responded to this incident have done an amazing job.
“On inspection there was quite a number of items such as aerosol cans that shouldn’t be in a recycling bin that have possibly caused the fire so we will investigate that further,” Craig said.
“Community members need to please be careful what they put into rubbish bins.”
An excavator was also called in to pull apart the rubbish to assist firefighting with extinguishing the fire.
A Watch and Act message was issued asking people in the area to stay indoors due to the dangerous smoke from the burning plastic and other materials in the truck. That warning has since been downgraded to an Advice message.
The incident was brought under control at 8.48am and declared safe at 9.05am.
CFA has four trucks on scene from Colac, Cororooke and Larpent.
Victoria Police and VICSES are also on scene.