January 21, 2013
Recent hot weather has been blamed for a large mining bucket snagging overhead powerlines in Kingaroy Street, Kingaroy, this morning, sparking a small grass fire.
The Peanut Van owner Rob Patch said he was working in his office when he heard a sound like a welder outside the building.
He rushed outside and saw the front tip of the mining bucket – which was being carried by a semi-trailer – jamming three powerlines together and sparks falling onto the ground.
A small fire started underneath so Rob grabbed a fire extinguisher from his building to put it out. A fire crew also came to damp down the area.
The semi-trailer had been attempting to turn from Stolzenberg Road into Kingaroy Street when it touched the lines.
Senior Sergeant Duane Frank said it had been an escorted load and all the clearances had been checked beforehand.
“However the lines may have sagged from the heat,” he said.
No powerlines fell, but police blocked Kingaroy Street in the vicinity of the Endeavour Kingaroy Kitchen until Ergon Energy crews checked the lines for safety.
