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A lorry carrying tyres caught fire on the M25 anti‑clockwise between J30 (Lakeside/DartCharge) and J29 (Romford) on 13 August 2025, prompting emergency closures, long delays and concerns that heat damage may require carriageway resurfacing.
A lorry laden with tyres went up in flames on the M25 on 13 August 2025, producing a vast plume of black smoke and forcing the anti‑clockwise carriageway to be stopped between Junction 30 (Lakeside/DartCharge) and Junction 29 (Romford). According to the original report in the Express, emergency services closed the affected stretch while crews tackled the blaze and a diversion route was put in place for motorists.
Essex County Fire and Rescue were at the scene, having been called to the incident shortly before midday, and confirmed that the vehicle’s load was alight. Local reporting and social media posts showed heavy flames and thick smoke rising from the carriageway, prompting swift attendance by multiple fire appliances. National Highways also tweeted that crews were working with firefighters to manage the situation.
The closure created widespread disruption on the ring road. National Highways warned of delays of at least 30 minutes, with some outlets and on‑the‑ground reporting putting the worst delays nearer to an hour as recovery and traffic management operations began. Diversions were organised to relieve pressure on the carriageway and plans were put in place to move vehicles trapped within the queues to allow emergency access and recovery teams to work.
Photographs circulating on social platforms and published by regional outlets showed the smoke column could be seen for miles, underlining both the intensity of the blaze and the visibility risk for drivers on surrounding routes. Several reports relayed National Highways’ caution that, once the immediate emergency was dealt with, the carriageway might require resurfacing because of heat damage from the fire, a remediation that would extend disruption into the day while contractors assess and repair the surface.
Operational sources and live traffic blogs logged lane closures, recovery work and the creation of alternative routes as traffic authorities sought to restore normal running. Some reports suggested that, depending on the progress of recovery and any necessary repairs, normal traffic conditions could return by mid‑afternoon, but motorists were advised to expect ongoing delays while safety checks and clear‑up continued.
The episode follows a pattern familiar on the M25, where even contained vehicle fires can trigger lengthy tailbacks. Regional coverage of a separate incident earlier in the year — a car fire on a slip road near Junction 29 — noted that crews extinguished the blaze within an hour but motorists still experienced around 30 minutes of delays while recovery and clearance took place. Such cases illustrate how quickly a single vehicle fire can cascade into broader network disruption on Britain’s busiest orbital road.
Motorists were urged to avoid the area where possible, to allow extra journey time and to follow diversion signs and official travel updates. According to reports from National Highways and Essex County Fire and Rescue, emergency and recovery crews remained at the scene working to make the carriageway safe and to clear the route for traffic to resume.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release from National Highways and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, dated 13 August 2025, detailing a lorry fire on the M25. This press release warrants a high freshness score. No earlier versions of this content were found, and no discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative includes updated data and is not recycled from older material.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from National Highways and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in the narrative are unique to this incident and have not been found in earlier material. No identical quotes appear elsewhere, indicating original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from reputable organisations: National Highways and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Both have a public presence and legitimate websites, confirming the reliability of the sources.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims in the narrative are plausible and corroborated by multiple reputable outlets, including LBC and Express & Star. The incident details, such as the lorry fire on the M25, the closure between Junctions 29 and 30, and the involvement of emergency services, are consistent across sources. The narrative lacks excessive or off-topic detail and maintains a tone consistent with official reports.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is based on a recent press release from reputable organisations, contains original quotes, and is corroborated by multiple reliable sources. All claims are plausible and consistent, with no signs of disinformation or recycled content.
