SOUTHBOUND lanes of the M1 have reopened and the emergency situation has been revoked after a tanker carrying 15,000 litres of hydrochloric acid caught fire this morning.

It came eight hours after the truck fire, which saw traffic backed up on both the M1 and Logan Motorway this afternoon as commuters tried to head south.

Tolls are being waived for both directions of the Logan Motorway at Loganlea as traffic builds on the M1.

Emergency services said it was a miracle nobody was injured in the truck fire.

An emergency situation was revoked by 5pm after a 1km exclusion zone was this morning set up around the scene.

media_camera Emergency services at the scene. Picture: Adam Head

Northbound lanes of the motorway reopened this morning but the southbound lanes remained closed until about 5pm for fire crews to clear chemicals from the site after the fire was extinguished. Southbound traffic was backed up to Springwood at 5pm, with eastbound traffic on the Logan Motorway congested from Tanah Merah back to Heathwood.

media_camera The fire closed the motorway in both directions. Picture: Jamie Thorburn

For those hoping to avoid the M1 chaos by using the Logan Motorway, it was this afternoon confirmed tolls would be waived from the M1 at the Loganlea toll point to the Gateway merge at Kuraby toll point until 6pm.

Acting Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Steven Miles thanked motorists for their patience but said delays would remain “for some time”.

“While the northbound lanes of the M1 have reopened this morning, police advise traffic will be disrupted for much of the afternoon and the southbound lanes will remain closed for some time.” Mr Miles said earlier this afternoon.

“Anyone thinking of travelling between the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Logan this afternoon is advised to take these travel disruptions into account and plan accordingly.”

“Toll tags will still beep when travelling underneath a tolling point, however tolls will not be charged between 10.45am today and 6pm tonight.”

An exclusion zone, which encompassed a 1km radius around the crash site, was established amid fears the truck was carrying a “volatile substance”, which police confirmed is hydrochloric acid.

That has since been revoked.

media_camera A truck carrying chemicals caught fire on the M1. Picture: Abbey Madde

Clinical Support Officer Ross Hodges praised the truck driver for his actions.

“The truck driver luckily managed to pull over to the side of the road and get out very quickly,” he said.

“He recognised the situation was quite serious early on. He managed to have the foresight to pull over onto the side of the M1 and managed to call emergency services very quickly and also flag down other passing motorists to get them to come to a standstill.

“The fire appeared to actually be coming from his cab somewhere.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service Inspector Jed Crosby told the ABC: “I believe it is a miracle he has escaped without any injuries.”

media_camera Smoke could be seen for several kilometres. Picture: Jamie Thorburn

Mr Hodges said emergency services were called to the scene of the incident just after 8.30am.

“When we arrived on scene we found the truck to be fully ablaze and firefighters were quick to put the blaze out,” he said.

In a media statement this morning, the company that owns the truck, Coogee Chemicals, said it was assisting emergency services with the clean-up.

Police have declared an emergency situation following a truck fire earlier this morning in Loganholme. https://t.co/AWf04b7Whw #alert pic.twitter.com/NU7HCVszlE — Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 3, 2017

“Coogee Chemicals confirms that one of the trucks caught fire on the M1 at Loganholme this morning. The truck contained 15,000 litres of hydrochloric acid,” it said.

“Coogee Chemicals’ incident response team is site and working with emergency services to resolve the issue.

“The company is relieved that no-one has been injured in the incident but is concerned about disruption or distress to local residents, businesses and passers-by.”

Police earlier told motorists to be patient as the clean-up would take some time.

“A recovery vehicle is enroute and once the truck is empty, it will be loaded on and taken away under police escort,” police said this morning.

“Traffic will be disrupted for much of the afternoon and the southbound lanes will remain closed for some time.”

A tow truck was at the scene by 1pm but it is understood the remaining hydrochloric acid was yet be decanted from the vehicle.

Scientific and environmental officers were also called in to assess the situation.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

No other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the incident.

media_camera Traffic is backed up in both directions following the truck fire on the M1 in this screengrab taken at 9.50am.

Beenleigh - Pacific Mwy M1 - Logan River Bridge pic.twitter.com/5BTGBnD86O — SEQ incidents (@SEQincidents) August 3, 2017

Key Facts

- Truck owned by Coogee Chemicals

- Chemical – hydrochloric acid, 15000 litres on board

- The fire has been extinguished. The driver was checked for smoke inhalation but

has been released.

- No other vehicles were involved in the incident and no members of the public

are reported to have been injured.

- Coogee Chemicals’ incident response team is working with emergency services

to resolve the issue.

media_camera The truck fire on the M1. Picture: Jodie O'Brien

A Queensland Ambulance spokesman confirmed a man, who managed to escape the vehicle, has been assessed by paramedics and is uninjured.

Police have also asked occupants of nearby businesses to evacuate amid fears the tanker is carrying a “volatile substance”.

Motorists should exit at Bryants Rd.

A Queensland Ambulance spokesman has confirmed a man, who managed to escape the vehicle, has been assessed by paramedics and is uninjured.

Scientific officers have also been called in to assess the situation.