M60 traffic: Motorway blocked after Asda lorry catches fire and crews battle to tackle blaze
There's traffic chaos on the M60 with part of the motorway blocked after an Asda[1] lorry caught fire[2].
Fire crews battled to put out the blaze as huge queues of vehicles formed from the scene near Junction 3 for the A34 Kingsway in Greater Manchester. It is unclear how the fire started, but the supermarket giant has confirmed no one was hurt. The queues continue to stretch past Junction 5 for Princess Parkway, according to motorway cameras.
Photos on the ground showed huge plumes of smoke and flames coming from the delivery lorry, which was ablaze on the southbound carriageway. The motorway stretch is currently blocked with delays in the area after the incident at around 2.45pm.
Other images and footage shared to X, formerly Twitter[3], show crews dousing the rear part of the lorry with water as smoke billows out over the motorway. One witness said on the social media platform: "Luckily, the front of the cab was still intact just the grocery cargo etc is on fire."
An Asda spokesperson said: "We are aware of an incident involving one of our vehicles on the M60 around Manchester. We are pleased that nobody is injured and emergency services have now attended the site."
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Huge plumes of smoke are coming from the lorry ( @CheadleAnt/Twitter)Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed six fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and the fire was put out by 4.30pm. A spokesperson said: "At around 2.40pm today (Friday January 12) eight fire engines from Withington, Whitehill, Wythenshawe, Cheadle, Stockport, Moss Side, Gorton and Altrincham fire stations attended a large goods vehicle on fire near to junction three of the M60 motorway. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reels to extinguish the fire and make the scene safe. Crews remain in attendance.”
National Highways tweeted: "The #M60 in #GreaterManchester is blocked anti-clockwise within J3 due to a vehicle fire. Police and Fire & Rescue are currently in attendance. We'll get you released shortly. Thanks for your patience." Travel service Inrix says: "M60 anticlockwise blocked, queueing traffic due to vehicle fire at J3 A34 Kingsway. Congestion to J5 (Princess Parkway). Ongoing since around 14:45. Traffic is slow in the opposite direction."
Greater Manchester Police[4] have been contacted for further information.