The quick actions of Mathoura Rural Fire Brigade saved a petrol tanker carrying 36,000 litres of fuel from exploding after it caught fire north of the town Thursday morning.
The Toll truck was driving along the Cobb Hwy towards Deniliquin, about 4km north of Mathoura, when the driver noticed the rear on fire about 5am.
Mid-Murray Rural Fire Service Superintendent Tony Whitehorn said when Mathoura RFS arrived on the scene, firefighters found the tanker — which was carrying 11,000 litres of unleaded fuel and 25,000 of diesel — ablaze.
Mr Whitehorn said the tanker driver was out of the vehicle when crews arrived.
‘‘He was safe and unharmed,’’ he said.
Mr Whitehorn said it was quite a dangerous fire, with 36,000 litres of flammable liquid having the potential to explode and spread.
Both lanes of the highway were closed immediately, and were still yet to be opened at 3pm Thursday.