Warning after truck fire

The danger of leaving hot ashes in wheelie bins was highlighted after a rubbish truck caught fire near Balclutha yesterday Balclutha Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Graeme Ferguson said the blaze was probably caused by hot ashes.

Firefighters spent an hour and about 6000 litres of water extinguishing the fire in a yard in Stirling.

Mr Ferguson said the fire highlighted the importance of making sure ashes were cold before putting them in a wheelie bin.

Ashes should be set aside for a "couple of days" to cool before being placed in a separate container before being put in a wheelie bin, he said.

JD Souness Ltd owner John Souness believed a wheelie bin containing hot ashes had been picked up from South Otago High School, setting rubbish inside the truck alight.

Mr Souness said it had been more than 18 months since hot ashes had sparked a fire inside one of his trucks. The truck would be rewired, sandblasted and repainted.