Office workers describe terror as bin lorry 'fireball' burns for an hour in west London

Office workers “cried hysterically” as a bin lorry parked just yards from their window erupted into a fireball so intense it melted the A4 beneath it.

Huck Auluck was among those who watched in horror as flames and thick, black smoke poured out of the council vehicle in Transport Avenue, Brentford, before rushing outside to check on the driver.

“He was clearly in shock describing what had happened,” Mr Auluck told the Standard. “He was coming round the corner turning into Transport Avenue – there was another driver flashing at him, saying: ‘Stop – your truck’s on fire.’

“He pulled over right on the corner, scrambled out and dragged himself away.

“By the time the fire brigade arrived it was engulfed.”

The lorry was yards from a council-run waste depot when it went up in smoke. Fire chiefs were this afternoon trying to establish what caused the fire.

“We were standing by the window watching and someone shouted: ‘We’d better move away in case the truck explodes’. Thankfully it didn’t, but it was a pretty big fireball.

“It’s still there – the tarmac has melted. It burned for an hour. You could see the fire brigade in the distance but they just couldn’t get through so it took a while for them to get here.

“There was thick black smoke. The building shut down the air conditioning but people in the office were crying hysterically out of fear – they were terrified.”

The fire brigade said the blaze was reported at about 1pm and was out within an hour.

James Ayling added: “The lorry pulled off the A4 with some smoke coming from behind the cab. It smoked a lot for about 20 minutes before the flames appeared, then it really caught.”

One lane was still shut on the A4 this evening.

Councillor Amrit Mann, deputy leader of Hounslow Council, said: “The police and fire service are currently dealing with an incident involving a refuse collection vehicle, which was on fire on the eastbound carriageway of the A4, at the junction with Transport Avenue, Brentford.

“One lane of the eastbound carriageway is closed and the police are managing traffic at the scene.

“The fire has been put out and no one has been hurt.

“An investigation will be carried out by the fire brigade to determine the cause of fire.

“Another refuse truck has taken over the damaged vehicle’s rounds but some rubbish collections in the borough may be affected today. Residents should visit www.hounslow.gov.uk where we will post more information as it becomes available.”