A stretch of the M62 in West Yorkshire was closed for several hours on Wednesday morning after a lorry caught fire, causing significant rush-hour disruption. The incident occurred on the westbound carriageway between junctions 24 and 22 near Huddersfield, with emergency services called to the scene at around 6:35am.
National Highways reported that the lorry was carrying a load of foodstuffs, and recovery crews faced a protracted operation to remove the debris. Traffic was halted for a time, with vehicles trapped within the closure being turned around. Delays reached up to 60 minutes, with congestion stretching six miles back to junction 26 for Bradford South.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that three crews attended and extinguished the fire using hose reels and breathing apparatus. No injuries were reported. The fire service added that crews were damping down at the scene.
A diversion was put in place via the A629 to Halifax, the A58 through Sowerby Bridge, and the A672 to rejoin the motorway at junction 22. Traffic monitoring site Inrix noted that the eastbound carriageway was also affected, with one lane closed due to the incident and slow traffic caused by onlookers.
The motorway remained closed until after 9:30am, with National Highways advising drivers to expect continued delays. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
