Flatbed truck cab destroyed by fire on M25 hard shoulder during morning rush hour
A driver who filmed the burning truck said the heat could be felt inside their car. Which section of the motorway it happened on has not been confirmed.
A flatbed truck caught fire on the hard shoulder of the M25 on Wednesday morning, 4 November. Its cab was completely alight and thick black smoke rose over the carriageway.
Footage shared with UB1UB2 was filmed at around 8:45am. It shows the burning vehicle on the hard shoulder while traffic moves slowly past in the next lanes. A marked traffic support van can also be seen heading towards the scene.
The driver who filmed it said the heat from the fire could be felt from inside their car as they went past.
Location and injuries not yet confirmed
The person who sent the footage said it was taken on the M25, but the junction and direction of travel have not been confirmed. The motorway was carrying heavy rush-hour traffic at the time.
It is not yet known what caused the fire or whether anyone was hurt. Police and fire services have not confirmed any details of this incident.
There were separate reports of a vehicle fire on the Surrey stretch of the M25 on Wednesday morning, which caused lane closures and long delays. It has not been confirmed whether that was the same incident.
Different fire services cover different parts of the M25 depending on where an incident happens. These include the London Fire Brigade and the services for Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The motorway itself is run by National Highways.
What to do if your vehicle catches fire
National Highways advises any driver whose vehicle develops a problem to move to the hard shoulder or an emergency area if they can. They should leave the vehicle by the left-hand doors, get behind the safety barrier where it is safe to do so, and call 999 if there is a fire or any danger to life.
Fire services warn drivers not to go back to a burning vehicle to collect belongings. Fuel tanks, tyres and batteries can fail suddenly, and the smoke is toxic.
Other drivers should not stop to film or watch. They should keep a safe distance and follow any lane closure signs above the carriageway. A red X sign means the lane is closed and must not be used.
Drivers can check live traffic on the M25 through National Highways before setting off.