A dramatic vehicle fire brought traffic to a halt on the M5 motorway in Somerset on Monday morning, August 3, after a car became engulfed in flames on the southbound carriageway between Wellington and Tiverton.
Emergency services were called to the scene after the vehicle caught fire while on the hard shoulder. Thick smoke billowed into the sky as flames rapidly consumed the car, prompting authorities to temporarily stop all traffic while firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control.
According to Wellington Fire Station, the fire spread from the vehicle to the nearby embankment and surrounding foliage. Fire crews acted swiftly to contain the flames, successfully preventing the fire from spreading into a nearby crop field, a cattle field, and nearby electrical installations.
Images from the scene showed the vehicle completely destroyed, leaving behind a burnt-out shell on the side of the motorway. A section of the hedgerow adjacent to the carriageway also sustained fire damage before crews extinguished the blaze.
Motorists experienced significant delays during the incident. A witness reported that traffic came to a complete standstill between Junction 26 (Wellington) and Junction 27 (Tiverton) while emergency responders carried out firefighting operations and ensured the area was safe.
The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, and no injuries were immediately reported. Authorities worked to clear the scene and restore normal traffic flow once the incident was brought under control.
Drivers traveling through the area were advised to remain alert for any residual delays as recovery operations concluded.
Information here is for general information purposes only. Details may be updated as additional information becomes available from emergency services or relevant authorities.