Traffic disruptions after refrigerated truck catches alight forcing overnight closure of Newell Highway near Ardlethan

About 10.15pm on Monday night emergency services were called to the Newell Highway and Ardlethan Road intersection after a b-double refrigerated goods truck caught fire.

Police, Fire & Rescue, RFS and RMS all attended the scene.

RFS Riverina's Bradley Stewart said the fire was located in the b-trailer.

"[Fortunately] the driver was able to detach the a-trailer from the b-trailer and the prime mover, saving the majority of the vehicle," Mr Stewart said.

"[But] due to the fire being in an inaccessible part of the b-trailer, and because the trailer was leaning precariously on one side and at risk of rolling, firefighters on the ground decided to allow the fire to burn out until sunrise."

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The Newell Highway was closed in both directions overnight with diversions in place. At about 2am the highway reopened with traffic control measures put in place.

Mr Stewart said a salvage operator is now on scene with operations to recover the vehicle underway.

Stop/slow traffic control measures remain in place with one lane open at a reduced speed limit of 40km/h.

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