M4 Westbound Closed After Lorry Fire Near Bristol

A lorry fire erupted on the M4 motorway near Bristol early Thursday morning, prompting the closure of the westbound carriageway between Junction 18 for Bath and Junction 19 for the M32, and causing significant delays for motorists ahead of the rush hour.

The incident was reported shortly after 5:30 a.m., when the heavy goods vehicle, believed to be carrying paper, burst into flames in South Gloucestershire. Emergency services, including crews from Avon Fire and Rescue Service stations in Yate, Bath, and Kingswood, along with Avon and Somerset Police and National Highways Traffic Officers, responded swiftly to the scene. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and ensure the area was safe, while traffic officers implemented strategic closures to manage the situation.

All westbound traffic was brought to a standstill, with queues stretching up to four miles and delays reaching as long as an hour. Monitoring services reported stationary vehicles from the A46 Bath Tormarton junction onward, affecting commuters traveling toward Bristol and beyond. National Highways described the response in a statement: "Due to a lorry fire, the M4 is closed westbound between J18 Bath and J19 M32...