Courts & Police
8 September, 2026
Latest Hume Highway blaze destroys cardboard-laden B-double
A B-double carrying compressed recycled cardboard has been destroyed by fire on the Hume Highway north of Yass, the latest in a string of truck fires on the highway in recent weeks.
A B-double carrying compressed recycled cardboard has been destroyed by fire on the Hume Highway north of Yass, the latest in a string of truck fires on the highway in recent weeks.
Emergency services were called to the southbound lanes of the Hume Highway at Manton about 7.10pm on Monday 7 September following reports of a heavy vehicle on fire.
Police said the driver experienced a mechanical issue and pulled onto the highway shoulder.
While inspecting the vehicle, the driver noticed a fire in the prime mover and attempted to extinguish it using an onboard fire extinguisher.
The attempt was unsuccessful and the fire spread throughout the truck and trailers.
The driver escaped safely and was assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics. No injuries were reported.
NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW crews worked to contain the blaze.
Due to the compressed recycled cardboard load, heavy machinery was required to separate the material so firefighters could continue extinguishing the fire.
The B-double and trailers were destroyed.
Southbound lanes of the Hume Highway were closed during the emergency response, with traffic diverted via Yass Valley Way and the Barton Highway.
It is the third truck fire on the Hume Highway reported by The Southern Wire in less than four weeks.
On 13 August, a truck fire at Yanderra near Bargo forced the closure of the northbound lanes, while on 1 September a truck was destroyed after crashing into bushland near Berrima.
The latest incident adds to a run of serious heavy-vehicle incidents along the Hume Highway corridor in recent weeks.
Initial inquiries indicate Monday night’s fire was caused by a mechanical failure and police say there are no suspicious circumstances.
Motorists are advised to check Live Traffic for the latest road conditions.
Video supplied by NSW Police.
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