An eight-ton truck was destroyed in a fire on Vincent Dickinson Road in Canelands – KZN today (Sunday) after it reportedly drove over a burning chemical substance on the roadway.
Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded to the scene where the truck’s cab was found fully engulfed in flames.
The driver stated that he attempted to avoid the burning substance on the road but was unsuccessful. He further reported that both front tyres burst, causing the vehicle to come to a standstill. The driver exited the truck and fled into nearby bushes for safety as the fire spread through the cab.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control and investigated the source of the fire. It was established that lime (Calcium Hydroxide), reportedly used in sugar cane harvesting, had been stored in an open field adjacent to the roadway, where it ignited and spread onto Vincent Dickinson Road.
The substance reportedly reacted adversely to water, resulting in a specialised team being called out to assess the hazard and determine the level of toxicity.
Both lanes of Vincent Dickinson Road were closed and a stop-and-go system was implemented to manage traffic.
No injuries were reported.
Truck Destroyed In Fire After Chemical Ignites On Road: Canelands – KZNhttps://t.co/FBJTu1CoTF#ArriveAlive #TruckFire pic.twitter.com/GEq6SjBqxT
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 12, 2026
It was established that lime (Calcium Hydroxide), reportedly used in sugar cane harvesting, had been stored in an open field adjacent to the roadway, where it ignited and spread onto Vincent Dickinson Road.https://t.co/s2PwKcwvLP #ArriveAlive #TruckFire pic.twitter.com/RY1L1Co6DT
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 12, 2026
