CFA District 20 commander Michael Masters said the blaze was believed to have been caused by the exhaust pipe on the truck.
“It’s spread from the load into the truck and adjoining bush,” he said.
CFA crews from Echuca Village, Echuca, Tongala and Barmah, as well as Forest Fire Management Victoria, were called to the fire near Shackells Folly Bridge about noon; arriving to find the truck fully ablaze.
“The truck was completely destroyed,” Mr Masters said.
“Thankfully, the fire only burnt a small area of bush, about 5m by 7m, so it’s very fortunate it didn’t get too far.
“The bush is quite dry, so it had the potential to be a lot worse.”
Mr Masters said the driver of the truck was not injured.
Although the fire had been contained in a few hours, fire crews were still at the scene at 4pm.
“They’re waiting on Moira Shire to supply them with a water tanker and excavator to turn the hay over,” Mr Masters said.
Meanwhile, reckless campers almost started a bushfire at Perricoota near Moama on Saturday.
NSW RFS Mid-Murray operations officer Gerard James said a group of partygoers camping at Torrumbarry let a flare go over the river about 4.30pm.
“Luckily campers nearby acted quickly and made a small containment line around the fire to stop it spreading,” he said.
“It was a hot day with a high fire danger rating and the area it landed was very heavily grassed and surrounded by timber, so it could have turned into a huge bushfire.”
Echuca police were called and are investigating.
Anyone with information is urged to call Echuca police on 5483 0507 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Also in Moama, a welder is believed to have started a fire at Old Barmah Rd on Sunday.
Moama RFS was called to the roadside about 5.30pm where two hectares of grass had been burnt.
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