‘Enormous bang’ heard as Highland Council recycling truck is destroyed by fire near Mey
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At 9.48am this morning the diesel tank of the recycling truck explodes and thick black smoke bellows out. Photos: Willie Mackay.
THREE council workers had a lucky escape when their refuse vehicle was “completely destroyed” after catching fire near Mey this morning (Friday).
Driver Hugh Duncan and loaders Ray Falconer and David Robertson, all from Wick, managed to get out of the vehicle and were unhurt. They contacted the fire service, took control of the situation and alerted other motorists and nearby residents to the potentially dangerous situation.
The men were around half-a-mile away from Mey when they noticed a smell of smoke in the cab. The vehicle was stopped and checked.
They then spotted flames coming from underneath the engine – just a few feet away from the diesel tank.
Within a short time the flames were up the side of the lorry. Fire engines from John O’Groats and Thurso were quickly on the scene.
Landward Caithness councillor Willie Mackay was in the area at the time and came across the incident.
The burnt-out cab of the recycling lorry is examined by fire officers and council officials.
He heard what he described as an “enormous bang” and saw black smoke and flames coming from the vehicle.
“I could not believe how quickly it went up. It just seemed to take a matter of seconds. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The crew had a lucky escape but they acted quickly,” said Mr Mackay.
“They were pretty shaken but took control of the situation, closed off the road and alerted people living nearby. They were very good.”
There were about four tons of recycling material in the lorry at the time – much of which was also destroyed in the blaze.
It is expected a crane and a low-loader vehicle will be needed to remove the burnt-out refuse vehicle.
