Main Roads to hire contractor to remove abandoned trailer one month after fire

A truck trailer gutted by fire which has been abandoned on Coolgardie-Esperance Highway for one month is expected to be removed this week.

The trailer caught fire about 9pm on February 29 about 50km north of Norseman.

A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said five crews from Kalgoorlie, Kambalda and Norseman fire brigades attended the blaze which had sparked a shrub fire.

The fire was extinguished just before 1am.

The DFES spokesperson said the fire was deemed to be accidental and possibly caused by the trailer’s brake system or wheel bearings overheating.

A Main Roads spokesperson said the transport agency was aware of the abandoned truck trailer.

The spokesperson said while removal of the trailer was the transport company’s responsibility, Main Roads would hire a contractor.

“To ensure road user safety, Main Roads has moved the trailer off the road and is working to engage a contractor for its removal,” they said.

“It is expected that the trailer will be removed this week.

“Main Roads will seek to recover the costs for removal from the owner or insurer.”