A quick-thinking truckie managed to disconnect his prime mover from a trailer load of hay that went up in flames on Tuesday, April 26.
CFA group officer Jim Renkin said the driver might not have been aware of the fire initially after a worker at a coffee van made the call to 000.
Crews from Benalla, Warrenbayne, Swanpool, Samaria and Tatong attended the incident, which saw the Midland Hwy closed for about five hours.
“The truck, which was carrying a load of hay rolls, must have stopped at Swanpool store and we believe he might have hit a power line when he left,” Mr Renkin said.
"It looks like a spark form that ignited the hay, and it has caught fire as he drove off.
“The lady in a coffee van called 000 and told us it had also started some spot fires.”
The truck pulled over just outside Swanpool and the driver managed to get the prime mover away from the trailer.
“The trailer and its load then burnt to the ground,” Mr Renkin said.
“We had to get all the hay off the back of the truck then soak it.
“We shifted most of it across the road to a vacant lot.
“To do that we had to close the road.”
The incident happened about 11.30am and the north-bound lane of the Midland Hwy was eventually opened at 4.30pm, with the south-bound lane opening about 5.15pm.
CFA crews remained at the scene into Wednesday to ensure none of the hay reignited.