Traffic chaos on the M25 after HGV bursts into flames
THE M25 was partially shut after a HGV burst into a fireball on the side of the motorway causing traffic chaos for hundreds of motorists.
MASSIVE lorry fire causes long delays on M25
Traffic in both lanes was forced to stop after the heavy goods vehicle caught fire just before the rush hour on Friday morning.
The section of motorway clockwise from Junction 27 to Junction 28, near Brentwood, Essex, was closed to traffic after the fire broke out.
Highways England has confrimed both lanes have since re-opened, but traffic may be slow moving past the scene.
They tweeted: "Take care passing scene of this mornings HGV fire.
"Crane now on site with lift and recovery work taking place."
The clean-up operation is expected to last until this afternoon.
Fire fighters from Essex Fire swarmed the scene after being called at 7.13am, and managed to bring the flames under control more than an hour and a half later.
The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service sent two fire engines from Brentwood, as well as one each from Harlow, Loughton and Waltham Abbey.
Traffic ground to a halt and huge tailbacks were reported while emergency services dealt with the fire, which affected M1, A1M, M11, A10 and M40 traffic.
The anti-clockwise carriageway was allowed to open just before 10am but was slow past the scene.
And two out of four lanes clockwise were finally opened around 9.30am, after the fire was extinguished around 9am, to let some of the stationary traffic pass.
One motorist tweeted: “I can see loads of traffic, and lots of fantastic Fire Fighters trying to put out the lorry fire just near Brentwood.”
While another simple said: “I am stuck behind this.”
If you're held in trapped traffic #M25 J27 - J28.. we've been liaising with @ECFRS ...aiming to run you past fire scene shortly. Thank you pic.twitter.com/kYImacRl1q
— Highways England (@HighwaysSEAST) January 20, 2017
Despite the lanes re-opening the section of carriageway between Junction 24 and Junction 25 had to be temporarily shut for around 20 minutes to allow HGV recovery operators to access the wreckage.
Photos from the scene show thick smoke engulfing the HGV and wafting across both carriageways.
Highways England issued a statement saying: “Resources are now engaged in extensive clean-up and recovery work and sections of the carriageway surface are being inspected to see if resurfacing is necessary.”
A diversion is in place for drivers heading clockwise, those approaching J27 should follow the ‘hollow triangle’ symbol which diverts via the M11, A406, A12 and then returning to the M25 at Junction 28. .
They advised southbound traffic on the M11 to also follow this route, and suggested motorists bound for Gatwick or coastal areas should consider alternative routes.
No one was injured in the blaze.
More to follow . . .