Lorry fire closes stretch of the M20 motorway near Maidstone
14:53, 12 October 2020
updated: 20:05, 12 October 2020
Motorists facing significant delays stretching into this evening after a lorry fire forced the closure of a stretch of motorway.
Fire crews and Highways England were called to the blaze on the coastbound carriageway of the M20 near Maidstone at about 1.15pm and the road had to be shut, with traffic diverted via the A249 and A20.
Watch: Vehicle fire on the M20 Video: Barry Goodwin
A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "Three fire engines and a bulk water carrier were sent to the incident, and crews wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze using hose reel jets and compressed air foam."
No casualties have been reported as a result of the fire, which has caused long tailbacks.
Fire crews remained at the scene - between junction 7 for Detling and junction 8 for Hollingbourne - until about 3.10pm.
The outside lanes were reopened but just after 5pm, Highways England tweeted to say the remaining lane closures were adding an extra 45 minutes to people's journeys.
The inside two lanes remained closed off for a number of hours while the clear up continued.
The tailbacks stretched back as far as Blue Bell Hill and were not helped by an accident on the exit slip-road at junction 6 (Maidstone/Blue Bell Hill).
It is thought up to three vehicles were involved in a collision, leaving debris scattered across the carriageway.
The routes were clear and all lanes reopened by about 7.30pm.
Some delays continued into the evening in Maidstone as drivers tried to avoid the motorway, with Penenden Heath and the A20 Ashford Road among the worst affected.
