Two separate lorry fires brought the M25 in Essex to a standstill overnight, causing extensive disruption with thick smoke billowing across the motorway. The main incident occurred between junction 27 (Epping) and junction 26 (Waltham Abbey), forcing a full anticlockwise closure that has lasted over 12 hours.
A second lorry fire between junction 28 (Brentwood) and junction 27 added to the chaos, effectively shutting a longer stretch of the motorway. Emergency services, including Essex Fire and Rescue, Essex Police, and National Highways traffic officers, attended both scenes.
Specialist recovery teams have been brought in to remove the burnt-out HGV and its fire-damaged contents. National Highways stated that the carriageway and surrounding infrastructure will need to be inspected for fire damage before the motorway can reopen, with repairs or further clean-up work potentially required.
Drivers are facing delays of up to 72 minutes and 10-mile queues, with congestion stretching between junctions 26 and 27. National Highways has urged motorists to follow a lengthy diversion route due to existing roadworks at Gallows Corner and to allow extra journey time or delay travel.
At the latest update, no reopening time has been confirmed, and the closure is expected to remain ongoing for several more hours. The disruption is likely to increase across the M25 in Essex as the morning rush hour approaches.
