Thanks guys!

It was work's truck. I think he said that something punctured the tyre (there are lots of road works along the coast between Sydney and Brisbane), the wheel caused sparks to fly up which ignited the fuel tank.

I'm glad he got out OK too. I'm a little bit in shock - it'll probably really hit me once he gets home. His work are gonna give him a ute or something to drive home (thankfully we have spare car keys! The joys of a new car!) He didn't want me to pick him up, although he hasn't slept in over 24 hours now, and I think he was too tired to understand that I could bring his spare keys, and he was too tired for me to argue with him (he gets VERY stubborn when he is tired!)

Apparently his work is gonna compensate him for all the lost stuff too. Obviously, they are not making him work tonight