Motorists faced chaos on Friday afternoon as a major motorway and another road were shut due to a grass fire on the central reservation and embankment near Exeter. Police closed the M5 and A38 after the blaze broke out around 2:20pm on 3 July 2026, with witnesses reporting flames visible on the central reservation.
Traffic and Travel Disruption
Traffic and travel website Inrix reported: "A38 Devon Expressway in both directions closed, queueing traffic due to serious fire from M5 J31 (Okehampton turn off, Exminster) to A379 (Kennford, Kennford)." The closure caused significant delays for commuters and holiday traffic in the region.
Fire Service Response
A spokesperson for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service stated: "10 pumps at the scene now and southbound traffic has been stopped by the police. The fire has spread to an adjacent field." The fire service confirmed that the blaze, which started on the central reservation, quickly spread to nearby grassland due to the recent heatwave and dry conditions.
An eyewitness told Devon Live that the A38 had been shut and police were on the scene. They added that they saw three fire engines heading towards the scene and another one parked on the carriageway heading towards Newton Abbot. The witness said: "It looks like the whole field behind the bank is on fire. There's also loads of little fires in the central reservation."
Impact on Motorists
The closure caused long queues and delays for drivers, with emergency services urging motorists to avoid the area. The fire service advised that traffic had been stopped in both directions to allow firefighters to tackle the blaze safely. The cause of the fire is believed to be related to the dry weather, with temperatures having been high in recent days.
