M25 traffic updates: Motorway section reopens after being shut for 17 hours due to huge lorry fire

The M25 has fully reopened after a busy section was shut for more than 17 hours following a huge lorry fire which could be seen for miles around.

National Highways closed the motorway in both directions – between Junction 29 (Romford) and Junction 31 (Thurrock) – after an HGV burst into flames on the anti-clockwise side at 12pm on Wednesday.

Eight fire appliances attended the blaze, with crews dispatched from Essex, Kent and London. Urgent repairs to barriers and road surfaces were also carried out.

The clockwise section of the M25 near the Dartford Crossing connecting Essex and Kent was reopened at about 2pm on Wednesday.

A lorry fire on the M25 today causing chaos - full of tyres which have carried on burning (unsure where fire started). On scene and will be clearing the vehicle as soon as possible pic.twitter.com/qneAm23Igu

— D&G Assist (@DG_Assist) August 13, 2025

However, the anti-clockwise carriageway remained closed overnight for resurfacing, finally reopening on Thursday morning.

There continued to be congestion during the morning rush hour on M25, as well as the nearby A2 after the motorway was fully reopened at 6am.

Some commuters heading home from work faced further disruption from other M25 closures, including barrier repairs in Kent.

Travellers heading clockwise and anti-clockwise were advised to join the A13 towards Tilbury then enter the A128 towards Brentwood, before taking the A127 towards London and rejoining the M25 towards Stansted.

Motorists on Wednesday shared their driving dismay on social media, with one tired man writing: "It feels like most of today was spent on the M25."

The fire was near the Dartford Crossing (PA)

Essex Police confirmed no one was injured in the fire and no arrests were made. The suspected cause of the blaze is believed to be a vehicle malfunction.

A spokesman for the force added: “The lorry is carrying tyres, which are alight and are producing large amounts of smoke.”

National Highways posted on X: “These overnight emergency resurfacing works are now complete, and the #M25 is now OPEN anti-clockwise between J30 @DartCharge J29 #Romford.There are no significant delays in the area. Thanks for your patience.”

Approximately 250,000 motorists use the M25 daily, making it the busiest motorway in Britain.