Truck driver unloads cargo as Hamilton firefighters battle highway blaze

By Nandika Ravi

Published June 2, 2023 at 1:38 pm

Quick action by a tractor-trailer driver helped bring a fire along Hwy. 403 in Hamilton under control this morning (June 2).

According to reports, the Hamilton Fire Department responded to the call just before 5 a.m. that a truck in the westbound lanes near Hwy. 6 was engulfed in flames.

However, the driver of the vehicle was able to unload a portion of the truck's cargo onto the side of the road. According to authorities, this made it easier for firefighters to bring the fire under control.

Hwy403 West @ Exit 64 In Hamilton. #Traffic. #hwy403 #Hamilton #fire #RoadSafety #trucking #ONHwys #Transportation #truckdriver #OPP #firefighters #Toronto #Friday pic.twitter.com/3fySCPWqco

— 401_da_sarpanch (@401_da_sarpanch) June 2, 2023

Reports suggest that the trailer was carrying a variety of construction materials and artificial turf, adding to the challenge of extinguishing the fire.

Still a lot of detouring traffic on Wilson St. E. in #Ancaster due to whatever happened on Hwy 403 (am and pm). This morning, there were so many transport trucks using Hamilton Drive for detour when you reported at 6:14am about the truck fire.

— Ciel21 (@Ciel2114) June 2, 2023

Local authorities are telling commuters to exercise caution when travelling in the vicinity of the fire. The ongoing investigation and cleanup efforts may cause temporary disruptions or lane closures.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and is still under investigation.