M5 chaos in Somerset as fire crews battle car ‘well alight’ near …
There are long delays on the M5 in Somerset as fire crews battle a vehicle fire this afternoon (July 19). Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service were called to a car “well alight” on the hard shoulder near Wellington[1] at around 1.38pm.
A total of three crews rushed to the scene on the southbound carriageway as smoke blew across the road. They used a hose reel jet to fight the blaze.
The motorway was closed near junction 26. It reopened just before 3pm but a traffic map from the AA shows congestion backed up from junction 25 for Taunton[2] heading southbound.
A spokesperson from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service[4] said earlier: “We were called at 1.38pm to a car well alight on the hard shoulder of the M5 near junction 26. The M5 is closed while three fire crews extinguish the fire using a hose reel jet.”
The latest log from traffic monitoring site Inrix says: “Queueing traffic due to earlier vehicle fire on M5 Southbound at J26 A38 (Wellington).
(Image: AA)
“All lanes have been re-opened. Travel time is 20 minutes. The road is now fully open, but residual delays remain.”
For all of the latest traffic and travel updates from the M5, follow our live blog here.[5]
References
- ^ Wellington (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Taunton (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Tata Somerset gigafactory: ‘Breakthrough’ £4bn car battery plant hailed as ‘fantastic news’ (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ our live blog here. (www.somersetlive.co.uk)