A38 stretch shut for 15 hours after huge lorry blaze

Firefighters spent all of Monday night and Tuesday morning dealing with the aftermath of the blaze in Fradley, near Lichfield, after it tore through the lorry just after 11pm.

The truck and trailer were both destroyed in the fire, while debris was left scattered across the southbound stretch of the dual carriageway.

A three-mile stretch of the southbound A38 was closed between the A513 to the A5127 until 3pm as a result, although the northbound road stayed open. Traffic was diverted around 11 miles along the A515 and A5192 until the road was reopened.

Once the fire on the inside lane of the A38 was put out, firefighters spent the morning damping down and clearing the carriageway but the clean-up was delayed as contents of the trailer started reigniting as they were cleared, Highways England said.

At 12.30pm firefighters had left the scene and a crane had arrived at the scene to help recover the gutted lorry and the road was back open just over two hours later.

Seven crews battle blaze

A spokesman from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said seven fire crews were sent to tackle the flames.

"Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called just after 11pm last night to a report of a lorry fire on the A38 southbound near Fradley", they explained.

"Crews from Barton-under-Needwood, Lichfield, Chase Terrace, Rugeley, Burton-on-Trent, Penkridge and Mercia have attended."

A Highways England spokesman said during the closure: "The A38 is currently closed southbound from its junction from its junction with the A513 (Fradley) to the A5127 (Lichfield).

"The closure is due to a HGV fire. A clear-up and recovery team are currently on scene and work is progressing well to remove the HGV and its load and treat the carriageway.

"For traffic approaching the closure locally, you are advised to expect disruption with extra journey time and may potentially have to re-route your journey.

"If travelling towards this area from much farther afield, you may wish to change your strategic route, allow extra travel time and follow guidance from our on-road variable signs and media."

Diversion details

Highways England has issued the following advice for southbound drivers: "At the junction of the A38/A513 take the exit to A513 westbound, Alrewas Road.

"Continue along the A513 westbound to King's Bromley. At the junction with the A515 take the exit to the A515 south.

"Continue along the A515 to the junction with the A51. Take the exit onto the A51 southbound and continue to the A5192 junction, Eastern Avenue.

"Take the exit to A5192 eastbound and continue to the A38."

Meanwhile a crash on the M6 northbound at around 12.30pm led to two lanes being closed between Junction 12 at Gailey and Junction 13 at Stafford South. Traffic was temporarily stopped while the road was cleared and all lanes were back open by 3pm.