loxsmith
18-12-2008, 09:00 AM
AN inferno fuelled by a cocktail of 63,000 litres of diesel and petrol has incinerated a road train on the outskirts of a Cape York town.
Stunned residents of Coen, 550km northwest of Cairns, said huge plumes of smoke could be seen about 1.5km from the town about 5.30pm on Saturday after the big rig’s prime mover caught fire.
Despite the best efforts of the driver to extinguish the blaze, flames soon spread to the rig’s two fuel tankers which then ignited in a series of explosions.
"The tops of the fuel tankers blew off with a real loud bang," witness Wayne Westwood said.
"The driver was fine, but what can you do but get out of the way."
Which is exactly what emergency crews did after cordoning off the road as the tanker burned for eight hours.
"There was nothing else they could do, nobody could go anywhere near, it was too dangerous," Mr Westwood said.
"It was lucky it happened where it did, it could have been a disaster if it happened in town."
Another witness, Megan Irving, who crept closer to capture the images in today’s The Cairns Post, said the heat was intense from 100m away.
Like Mr Westwood she was grateful the truck driver had stopped to clear the dust off his brakes near the entrance to the town.
"The tankers often stop near the school and tennis courts," she said.
While the tanker burned until after midnight, the morning revealed the fire’s intensity.
"All the tyres were melted off the rims," Mr Westwood said.
"The truck was burnt to a crisp, the fuel tanks completely melted and the only thing that is left is the chassis, wheel rims and a bit of the cab."
That should have woken up Charlie in his mine!!
Stunned residents of Coen, 550km northwest of Cairns, said huge plumes of smoke could be seen about 1.5km from the town about 5.30pm on Saturday after the big rig’s prime mover caught fire.
Despite the best efforts of the driver to extinguish the blaze, flames soon spread to the rig’s two fuel tankers which then ignited in a series of explosions.
"The tops of the fuel tankers blew off with a real loud bang," witness Wayne Westwood said.
"The driver was fine, but what can you do but get out of the way."
Which is exactly what emergency crews did after cordoning off the road as the tanker burned for eight hours.
"There was nothing else they could do, nobody could go anywhere near, it was too dangerous," Mr Westwood said.
"It was lucky it happened where it did, it could have been a disaster if it happened in town."
Another witness, Megan Irving, who crept closer to capture the images in today’s The Cairns Post, said the heat was intense from 100m away.
Like Mr Westwood she was grateful the truck driver had stopped to clear the dust off his brakes near the entrance to the town.
"The tankers often stop near the school and tennis courts," she said.
While the tanker burned until after midnight, the morning revealed the fire’s intensity.
"All the tyres were melted off the rims," Mr Westwood said.
"The truck was burnt to a crisp, the fuel tanks completely melted and the only thing that is left is the chassis, wheel rims and a bit of the cab."
That should have woken up Charlie in his mine!!