M25 Closed After Lorry Fire in Hertfordshire

A lorry fire erupted on the M25 motorway in Hertfordshire this afternoon, prompting authorities to close the route in both directions between Junction 25 near Enfield and Junction 24 near Potters Bar, causing widespread traffic disruptions during the Friday evening rush hour.

Emergency services responded swiftly to the incident, which involved a heavy goods vehicle ablaze in the slow lane. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service dispatched multiple fire engines and crews to the scene, where they worked to extinguish the flames amid thick plumes of smoke visible from surrounding areas. National Highways Traffic Officers joined the effort to manage the resulting congestion, holding traffic in place to allow safe access for responders.

The closure, which began around midday, led to severe delays of up to 67 minutes, according to traffic monitoring services. Congestion extended anticlockwise as far as Junction 26 near Waltham Abbey, with queues spilling over into local roads including the A10 through Enfield, the North Circular, and routes around Potters Bar. Clockwise traffic also faced backups, exacerbating the gridlock for thousands of commuters. Images from the scene captured long...