July 22nd 2024.
The morning rush hour in Plymouth took a turn for the worse as a crane fire caused severe delays for drivers on the A38. This major A-road was brought to a standstill as a huge crane became engulfed in flames, sending thick black smoke into the air. The westbound carriageway was closed off between B3416 Plympton and A374 Efford, causing delays of up to 30 minutes for commuters.
As the blaze raged on, two lanes on the eastbound carriageway were also shut down due to safety concerns. One brave driver was even captured on video squeezing past the burning crane, just yards away. Emergency services including firefighters, police, ambulance, and highways officers rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the fire.
National Highways issued a warning for severe delays and advised motorists to follow diversions to avoid the area. The sight of black smoke billowing from the crane was a cause for concern, but luckily the eastbound carriageway was able to reopen at around 8:30 am. However, crews remained at the scene, continuing their efforts to control the fire.
The closure at Plympton caused congestion for three miles, according to National Highways. They also stated that the decision was made to close the westbound carriageway at 7:58 am, as the fire was still being dealt with by the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. Traffic on the eastbound carriageway was eventually released, but lanes 2 and 3 remained closed for safety reasons due to the smoke.
As for any potential injuries or casualties, the South West Ambulance Service was contacted for a comment. The situation in Plymouth caused quite a stir and resulted in significant delays for drivers, but thankfully no major injuries were reported. Let's hope for a swift and safe resolution to this unfortunate incident.
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