Summary: Two haul trucks were passing each other when one operator noticed a flame underneath the other truck. He notified the operator and immediately parked up. The fire was extinguished using a hand-held extinguisher. The centre tail shaft bearing had failed and the heat generated ignited combustible components.
Recommendations to industry: The lifecycle of components should be managed to minimise the likelihood of failures that could initiate a fire. The Resources Regulator will be initiating a program in open cut mines in the near future examining the impacts of sub-standard maintenance practices on fires on mobile plant.