Motorists are facing severe delays of up to three hours on the M25 clockwise in Kent, between Junction 5 (Sevenoaks/M26) and Junction 6 (South Mimms), following a lorry fire in the early hours of the morning.
At around 1.30am this morning, a lorry carrying a load of metal sheeting caught fire on the M25. Kent Fire and Rescue Service quickly responded to the incident with five units and a specialised water carrier, managing to extinguish the blaze by approximately 3am
However, due to the intense heat from the fire, the lorry’s cargo remained extremely hot, necessitating ongoing lane restrictions to ensure safety for both emergency services and the public. Lanes 2 and 3 have been closed to facilitate the recovery operation, while lane 1 remains closed due to long-term roadworks.
As of 9am, the lorry’s contents have been safely removed, and the recovery operation is ongoing. Once recovery is complete, a pavement engineer will assess the carriageway for any potential damage caused by the fire.
Motorists are advised to expect continued delays and consider alternative routes where possible while recovery efforts and safety assessments are completed.
