Vehicle fire

Fire Control received multiple calls reporting a lorry with a wheel on fire on the southbound carriageway of the M5 between Burnham-On-Sea and Bridgwater.

Control immediately mobilised crews from Burnham-On-Sea, Bridgwater and Cheddar and a water carrier from Bridgwater. Shortly after booking in attendance, crew confirmed that the trailer of the lorry was well alight and requested a road closure for safety measures.

At 09:58 - a request was made from the incident ground for the attendance of a telehander to help offload the goods off the back of the lorry - this was mobilised from Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Station

At 10:03 - a request was made for an additional fire appliance to attend this incident - crew from Taunton was mobilised.

At 10:14 - Crew are making good progress and at work with 4x breathing apparatus, 2x main jets and hydraulic spreaders. A full road closure on both the north and south bound carriageways are now in force.

At 10:36 - a request was made from the incident ground for the attendance of the Incident Support Unit - this was mobilised from Martock

10:58 - Crew have stated that a 25m cordon is now in place around the lorry, full closure of the M5 still remains in place.

At 11:14 - Telehandler is now in use to remove pallets from the lorry. Crew are also at work with 2x breathing apparatus, 1x hose reel jet and 2x main jets to extinguish the fire. 

At 12:10 - Northbound carriageway of the M5 has now been reopened to clear the traffic held from Junction 23. Other road diversions are still in place. 

At 12:35 - All goods have now been removed from the lorry bed. Breathing apparatus has now been discontinued. Crews are still at work with 1x hose reel jet and 1x main jet in for cooling lorry.

At 13:04 - Lane 3 on the southbound carriageway on M5 has now been opened.

At 13:14 - Firefighting operations have now ceased - crews are now monitoring temperature  for hot spots and making up equipment. a 1x appliance relief crew was requested from incident, crew from Street was mobilised.

Unfortunately the lorry and it's contents sustained severe damage from the fire. The cause of the fire was accidental.