KUCHING: It was a moment of panic for a lorry driver yesterday after his lorry laden with oil palm fresh fruit bunches suddenly caught fire while travelling along Mukah-Oya Road in Mukah.
In the incident that occurred around 7.00am, the driver, identified as Osman Mohd Siri, was heading to an oil palm factory in Bakong from Dalat when he saw thick smoke coming out of one of the rear tyres on the left side of his vehicle.
He then stopped by the roadside, got out of the vehicle to check the source of the smoke. When he saw one of the tyres was on fire he immediately doused it with water from a nearby drain before contacting the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) for assistance.
Five firefighters from Mukah fire station were dispatched to the scene following the distress call at 7.04am.
Upon arrival at the scene, located eight kilometres from the fire station, they sprayed water on the affected tyre to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.
About 10 per cent of the tyre was damaged.
