Thick smoke billowed into the sky as firefighters battled a large vehicle fire on the A38 in Devon on Monday, August 19. The incident, which involved a van, occurred near Bovey Tracey, causing significant disruptions to traffic flow.

A38 Closed Westbound

The fire, reported at 10.34am, forced the closure of the A38 westbound carriageway, leading to extensive delays. Pictures taken at the scene showed emergency services working diligently to extinguish the blaze.

Traffic Delays

The impact of the incident extended beyond the immediate area, with traffic monitoring site Inrix reporting queues stretching from the A382 (Drum Bridges, Heathfield) to the A383 (Goodstone Junction, Teignbridge).

National Highways Response

National Highways, the UK's road management company, provided regular updates on the situation. They confirmed that the incident was cleared, and all lanes reopened on the A38 westbound between the A382 and A383. However, they advised that delays persisted in the area and were expected to gradually ease.

Ongoing Recovery Efforts

While the fire was extinguished, recovery efforts continued, causing intermittent lane closures on the westbound carriageway. Despite the reopening of all lanes, traffic remained heavy in the area, reflecting the significant disruption caused by the incident.

Eyewitness Accounts

A witness at the scene captured images of firefighters tackling the blaze, highlighting the intensity of the fire. Thick black smoke filled the sky, a stark reminder of the significant impact of the incident.

A38 Remains Impacted

The A38 westbound remained closed for an extended period, with traffic queueing from the A382 to the A383. These delays significantly impacted motorists traveling through the area, highlighting the inconvenience caused by the incident.

Learning From the Incident

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by vehicle fires. It also emphasizes the importance of road safety measures and the need for prompt response from emergency services in such situations.

The Aftermath

The A38, a vital artery connecting various parts of Devon, experienced significant disruption due to the fire. The incident highlighted the importance of swift action by emergency services and the resilience of road infrastructure in handling unexpected events.

The incident underscored the importance of driver awareness and road safety.