Risk of explosion at warehouse fire closed M25

Smoke billowing across the M25, showing the road closed without any traffic on it. Trees are either side of the road.

The risk of an explosion at a large warehouse fire closed both carriageways of the M25 between junctions 22 and 21A.

National Highways said 15 crews had been at the scene and the motorway had been closed because of the risk of a "secondary explosion, along with smoke and debris affecting the carriageway".

It was shut for about one hour and reopened at about 12:15 with 40mph speed restrictions.

A fire engine on a road with a yellow hose pipe coming out of it. There is a white van to the right, and a man by it. There are trees behind the vehicles and a path to the right.

People were asked to keep their doors and windows closed and to avoid the area.

Hertfordshire Police confirmed the M25 had shut because of "smoke from a warehouse fire".

It said there were also road closures in St Albans, at Colney Street and Old Parkbury Lane.

National Highways said because the warehouse was close to the railway line, Network Rail had a representative on site liaising with the fire service.

There were still delays in the area and it might "take time for congestion to clear", it added.

The fire service said it had "received a significant number of calls regarding this incident".

A spokesperson added that firefighters had been "working hard to bring the situation under control".

The shut M25, showing a bridge across it. Smoke is billowing up in the air and the bridge has railings on it. There are trees either side.
A large plume of smoke by the M25 motorway, with cars on the road across a bridge. Trees are to the left and all around the road.

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Original source Risk of explosion at warehouse fire closed M25

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