Lorry fire is latest in year of A417 vehicle infernos

There have been three vehicle fires on the road from Gloucester towards Swindon, all near the Air Balloon Roundabout.

Emergency services were called to the A417 between Cirencester and Air Balloon Roundabout after the lorry burst into flames at around 7:30am.

Pictures show the whole of the articulated lorry ablaze. The driver's cab is blackened with the glass missing, and the cargo of cardboard boxes is burning.

National Highways did a recovery and clean-up operation, assessing the road for damage.

Later the same day a van caught fire on the M4 at junction 18, bringing traffic to a standstill with two lanes closed.

On April 29 an Asda lorry dramatically caught fire around 7.30am on the A417 again near the Air Balloon Roundabout.

An eyewitness said: "It was totally gutted by fire.

"The bit behind the driver was completely ripped up. There was a massive tear on the van. The road surface was all burned.”

Fire services said ‘100 per cent’ of the van was damaged after they were called to the scene at 7.53am.

Gloucestershire Fire Service said in a statement: “The van was 100 per cent damaged by fire and there were no injuries.”

Another month before this, on February 9, a bus carrying children home from school burst into flames.

The IGO Bus vehicle was believed to have been transporting children home from school in Purton or Royal Wootton Bassett, but after the fire only a skeleton of the bus’ rear remained.

Wiltshire Council later severed all ties with the bus firm and its sister company Denwell Coaches.

Councillor Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “The safety of the pupils we transport to and from school is of paramount importance and so we have taken the decision to stop using Denwell Coaches with immediate effect.

The services had already been shut down by the traffic commissioner following a public inquiry over safety concerns.

In the report, the commissioner found that almost half of the coaches in the company failed their MOTs despite pre-MOT inspections and that many vehicles were kept in circulation despite dangerous defects.

What causes vehicle fires?

Arson

The AA states: “The biggest cause of vehicle fires attended by fire brigades is arson or vandalism of parked vehicles. 

“Figures for the UK show that around half of all vehicle fires between 2015 and 2020 were “deliberate”, and that’s before you count accidental fires caused by human activity.”

Mechanical faults

It adds: “It’s relatively rare for a vehicle to catch fire while you’re driving spontaneously.

“A study found that the most common cause of “highway fires” was mechanical faults, accounting for around half the highway fires in the US between 2013 and 2017. 

“Electrical faults caused another fifth.”

Electric vehicle batteries

They say the following about electric vehicles: “While electric vehicles do not run the risk of fuel leaks, there is still a combustion risk from lithium-ion batteries, especially at hot temperatures. 

“Fires caused by or affecting the battery of an EV may need different treatment, and a damaged battery could reignite hours later if it retained a charge.”

Tyres

Lastly, it says: “Tyres can also catch fire and are particularly hard to put out. 

“Poorly inflated tyres rubbing against a solid surface on the chassis can reach ignition temperatures, or a failed brake lock system can cause heat too.”

Some unusual causes of vehicle fires can be a cigarette stub thrown out a window which can be sucked back in as the vehicle moves and may burn in the backseat without a driver noticing.

Fallen autumn leaves or branches under a vehicle in a parking spot can also get drawn into a vehicle’s catalytic convertor as the driver starts the engine.