Lorry Blaze Sparks Chaos on M25 Near Dartford Crossing
A lorry fire on the M25 near the Dartford Crossing brought rush hour traffic to a grinding halt this afternoon (August 30). The blaze broke out on the northbound A282 between Junction 2 (Darenth Interchange) and Junction 1B (Princes Road/Dartford), triggering severe delays for drivers.
Firefighters Race to Tackle the Flames
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) scrambled two fire engines to the scene. Emergency crews fought the fire swiftly, but the incident forced the closure of two of the four northbound lanes. This sparked heavy congestion, with traffic backing up on the M25 anticlockwise and spilling onto the A2.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service is at the scene of a lorry fire between Junction 2 and 1B on the A282 northbound – near to the Dartford Crossing. Two fire engines are in attendance, and crews are working to extinguish the fire,” confirmed KFRS.
Motorists Face Huge Delays – But Relief Is on the Way
Traffic cams captured snarls stretching for miles, with delays peaking at 50 minutes as frustrated drivers crawled through the area. By 3:48pm, National Highways announced all lanes had reopened. While traffic gradually returned to normal, lingering delays kept journeys longer than usual.
Officials urged motorists to stay alert and expect slow travel until congestion fully clears. Latest updates show travel times have improved, dropping to 15-20 minutes in affected zones.
Motorway Mayhem Reminder
This fiery mishap serves as a stark reminder of how quickly major motorways like the M25 can become gridlocked due to unforeseen incidents. Drivers are thanked for their patience as emergency teams worked urgently to restore safe conditions on one of the UK’s busiest roads.
