Lorry blaze sparks M6 traffic chaos

Firefighters were called to a lorry fire on the M6 which brought the motorway to a stop. Fire crews from three stations as well as police and highways officials descended on the southbound stretch last night. The blaze - which started at around 8pm - saw traffic stopped between junctions 15 for Stoke-on-Trent South and junction 14 for Stafford North.

Now Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service [1] says the fire was sparked by an 'overheated tyre'. The service sent crews from stations in Longton [2], Newcastle,[3] and Cannock to the incident. A fire service spokesman said: "Our colleagues from Staffordshire Police [4] and National Highways also went to the scene.

Emergency services at the scene of the blaze on the M6 (Image: National Highways)

"The fire was extinguished just after 9pm and was deemed to be accidental as a result of an overheated tyre.

No one was injured." Around 30 minutes after crews were called traffic was freed while three lanes had to stay shut. By 11.50pm all lanes were back open.

References

^ Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Longton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Newcastle, (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^ Staffordshire Police (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
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