Motorway misery as M55 car fire causes congestion and long tail-backs at rush hour
‘The car’s engine burst into flames on the hard shoulder’
It happened yesterday afternoon when the fire broke out in the engine of a car on the westbound carriageway between junctions two and three.
Police were initially called at 4.11pm after the car stopped on the hard shoulder.
They closed the carriageway for 20 minutes as emergency crews from Lancashire Fire and Rescue dealt with the fire.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue said: “Firefighters found one car well alight on the hard shoulder.
“Crews used one breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet to extinguish the fire.
“All occupants were accounted for and out of the vehicle before firefighters arrived. The incident was left in the care of National Highways.
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Traffic backed up and at its peak, it was reported there was around six miles of congestion.
A spokesperson from Lancashire Police said: “A Car pulled up on the hard shoulder westbound after junction two with a fire in the engine.
“LFRS dealt with it and the carriageway was closed for around 20 minutes.”