M25 lanes reopen after shocking lorry fire sparks 17-hour closure
The road between junction 31 and junction 29 was closed in both directions yesterday, as firefighters tackled the huge blaze and emergency road repair works were carried out.
First reported at around midday yesterday, videos of the fire showed the lorry, carrying tyres, engulfed in flames on the carriageway close to the Dartford Crossing.
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Essex Police last night advised residents to expect the road to remain closed until at least midnight.
Clockwise lanes on the affected stretch of the M25 were reopened at around 2pm, while anticlockwise lanes were not opened until 6am this morning.
Smoke - The lorry was carrying tyres and required eight fire engines to control the blaze (Image: Essex Fire) Essex Police have confirmed that no one was injured in yesterday's fire, which saw eight fire engines from Essex, Kent and London attend.
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A spokesperson for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to the anticlockwise carriageway, between junctions 29 and 30, yesterday at 12.25pm.
Blaze - The M25 was shut for more than 17 hours while firefighters tackled the flames (Image: Essex Fire) "Crews from Grays (two), Basildon and Brentwood attended, along with three crews from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and one from London Fire Brigade.
"An articulated lorry and its load of tyres was completely alight when crews arrived. The driver had got out safely."
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