A garbage truck on fire is causing chaotic scenes on one of Sydney’s busiest roads.
The M5 Motorway is closed in the westbound lane due to fire on a garbage truck, which has dumped its load.
There are estimated delays of 90 minutes, with images from the scene showing rubbish from the truck well lit and plumes of black smoke filling the air.
The incident at Milperra has caused traffic chaos, with scenes of gridlock between Hammondville and Beverly Hills, west of Sydney.
It has sparked a major emergency service response, with Fire and Rescue NSW confirming it has eight fire engines and around 25 firefighters battling the pungent blaze.
“Just before 4pm today, FRNSW crews responded to a garbage truck fully alight on the M5 westbound near the Henry Lawson Dr exit,” a post on the service’s X account reads.
“8 trucks and about 25 firefighters working to extinguish the fire and contain run-off.”
Motorists travelling westbound out of Sydney is being urged to plot alternative routes, with traffic being diverted via Milperra Rd or the Hume Highway.
One commuter said it has taken her two hours to travel just 20km and was still no where near home.
“The M5 is a traffic park most days but this seriously takes the cake,” the south West Sydney resident said.
“What a joke of a road system where one incident literally cripples the main thoroughfare to Sydney’s south west.
“I left work with the sky blue and it is now pitch black”.
She added that thousands of cars remained at a standstill as of 6.45pm local time, as a large plume of grey smoke hung in the air.
“The smoke is visible up to 1km away and the air is filled with a strong smell of fire,” she said.
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