Motorists faced major delays on the M25 this morning after two lorries caught fire in separate incidents, forcing the closure of a busy stretch of the motorway in Essex.
The anti-clockwise carriageway was shut between Junction 28 for Brentwood and Junction 27 for Epping following a vehicle fire, while a second blaze closed the road between Junction 27 and Junction 26 near Waltham Abbey.
National Highways warned disruption would continue throughout the morning due to the “intensity of the blaze”, with drivers facing delays of up to 45 minutes and around four miles of congestion.
The first incident was reported at approximately 3.05am when a lorry was found “well alight” between Junction 27 and Junction 26.
All four lanes were closed as emergency crews rushed to tackle the fire.
Although the flames have since been extinguished and trapped traffic released, the scale of the damage has left a major recovery operation underway.
National Highways said the lorry had spilled a “significant load” across the carriageway, creating further delays as crews worked to clear debris and assess the road surface.
“The lorry shed a significant load across the carriageway, which we expect to take some time to clear,” the agency said.
“It will then be removed and the condition of the road assessed before any lane can reopen.”
A second fire then broke out shortly afterwards as traffic queued behind the original closure.
The incident involved two lorries, with one vehicle catching fire between Junction 28 and Junction 27.
While motorists trapped behind the blaze have been released, the carriageway remains closed while police complete their investigation.
National Highways said the reopening time remained unclear and urged drivers to avoid the area where possible.
Essex Police said officers were working alongside National Highways teams to manage the disruption.
“We know this will cause disruption, but this is important work and we’d urge motorists to find alternative routes,” the force said.
Recovery teams warned the damage was extensive.
D&G Assist, which attended one of the scenes, said the operation was proving “time-consuming” due to the scale of the destruction.
“The damage caused is huge, and it is a time-consuming recovery,” the company said.
The double blaze has caused significant disruption on one of Britain’s busiest motorway routes, with commuters warned to expect a difficult morning journey.
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