Electrical fault starts truck fire

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A low-loader truck used for carting heavy machinery caught fire near the Bell Road saleyards at Matawhero early yesterday morning and an electrical wiring fault has been put down as the cause.

Fire and Emergency NZ responded to a 111 call about the incident at around 5.15am yesterday.

“The truck had been parked overnight in the loading area at the saleyards,” a senior firefighter said.

“The driver had just started the rig up, idling it for three to four minutes, when he noticed a glow behind the cab, and went to investigate.

“He found a small fire and tried unsuccessfully to douse it with the truck’s fire extinguisher.”

The senior firefighter said when they arrived the fire was still going.

“It hadn’t spread and was put out quickly with a hose reel.

“A hydraulic fluid line and a diesel fuel line had burnt through as a result of arcing from wiring in the chassis of the truck.”

The truck was to be towed back to Gisborne to the company’s depot for repairs.

“A small amount of diesel and hydraulic fluid was spilled, but it was contained and mopped up.”

The truck driver was unhurt.