Fire breaks out in rubbish truck

Published: 13 Oct 2023

Residents are being reminded to not put hazardous items in their wheelie bins, including car batteries, gas bottles, chemicals or flares.

The call comes after a JJ Richards and Sons general waste truck caught on fire this morning in Esperance Avenue, Blacks Beach.

Due to the quick-thinking actions of the driver, the driver escaped unharmed and minimal damage was caused to the truck.

The truck was unloaded onto the street and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) put the fire out.

The material will be loaded into skips and taken for disposal today.

Council apologises to residents in the area that may be affected.

This incident highlights the importance of recycling and disposing of waste correctly.

For further information residents are encouraged to go to mackay.qld.gov.au/wastedisposal.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.