A truck containing a load of precious toilet paper burst into flames on Brisbane's Gateway Bridge last night, leading to the destruction of many rolls of the increasingly scarce commodity.
The incident comes in the midst of a nationwide toilet paper shortage, caused by consumers panic-buying the item due to fears about the coronavirus crisis potentially necessitating periods of isolation or self-quarantine.
While experts have warned that this panic-buying is unnecessary and a disproportionate response to the threat of coronavirus, fans of toilet paper will be relieved to hear that firefighters were able to save approximately half the semi trailer's load.
Speaking from the scene of the fire last night, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services firefighter Justin Francis told ABC News that "there was quite an interesting fuel load on this particular vehicle, as we believe toilet paper's quite precious at the moment."
"We've been able to save half the load on this particular truck."
A QFES spokesperson told The Feed that three crews arrived on scene at around 9:50pm last night, and that the firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the front of the truck by about 10:10pm.
The driver of the truck is also unharmed, and the cause of the blaze is believed to be a mechanical fault.
All lanes on Gateway Bridge were opened again as of around 6:30 this morning.
It is unclear whether the truck in question was transporting toilet paper in response to the current shortage, or whether it was simply a routine delivery.
In any case, experts urge those thinking of panic-buying toilet paper to remain calm and resist the urge to splurge.
