A major incident unfolded on the M5 motorway this afternoon after a lorry was engulfed in flames, causing severe disruption for thousands of motorists.
The dramatic fire led to the complete closure of the motorway in both directions between junction 24 (Bridgwater South) and junction 25 (Taunton). Thick, black smoke could be seen billowing across the Somerset countryside, prompting emergency services to rush to the scene.
Emergency Response and Traffic Chaos
Avon and Somerset Police, along with multiple fire engines and Highways England officers, were deployed to tackle the blaze. While the driver is confirmed to have escaped unharmed, the incident caused miles of stationary traffic on one of the South West's busiest routes.
National Highways issued a severe traffic alert, stating: "The M5 is closed northbound and southbound between J24 and J25 due to a heavy goods vehicle fire. Emergency services are in attendance. Please allow extra journey time if travelling in the area this evening."
Diversion Routes and Long Delays
Drivers were urged to avoid the area entirely. For those already caught in the disruption, lengthy signed diversion routes were put in place:
- Northbound traffic was diverted via the A38 towards Bristol.
- Southbound traffic was directed to follow the same route in reverse.
Travel time through the area was significantly increased, with delays of at least 60 minutes reported. The closure also caused knock-on congestion on surrounding A-roads as sat-navs attempted to redirect vehicles.
Ongoing Situation and Advice for Motorists
As emergency crews worked to extinguish the fire and recovery operations began, motorists were advised to check live traffic updates before setting out on their journeys. National Highways warned that recovery and assessment of the road surface would take some time, with delays expected to continue into the evening rush hour.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the massive disruption a single vehicle fire can cause to the UK's critical road network.
