GREAT Western residents have questioned why houses near a truck fire on Thursday last week were not evacuated.
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Meryl Bowers said people were allowed to stay at their properties while a B-double truck trailer burnt in Main Street, Great Western.
She said residents were concerned by resulting smoke and chemicals.
“Why was there no detour on the Western Highway?” she said.
“The traffic was backed up in both directions – it was about 1.30am before traffic was allowed through.”
Stawell Sergeant Simon Grant said the truck’s bearings caught fire.
“The driver was alerted by another truck driver passing him in the other direction,” he said.
“Police blocked the Western Highway, then VicRoads took over.”
A VicRoads spokeswoman said the highway fully reopened at 3.15pm on Friday.
District 16 Country Fire Authority operations officer David Harris said the fire posed some threat to properties but there was no need for residents to be evacuated.
