Drivers faced significant disruption on the M3 in Surrey after a lorry trailer caught fire, forcing the closure of the northbound carriageway and prompting warnings over the growing risks linked to electrical waste and lithium-ion batteries.
The incident happened between junction four (Farnborough) and junction three (Woking), where the burning vehicle was brought to a halt on the hard shoulder. Long queues quickly built up as emergency services worked to bring the situation under control.
What happened
National Highways confirmed that the northbound M3 was closed while crews dealt with the fire.
According to Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, the lorry trailer was carrying mixed electrical waste, including lithium-ion batteries — a factor which significantly increased the complexity and duration of the incident.
Firefighters described the blaze as generating large volumes of smoke and warned that it was likely to be a protracted operation, due to the nature of the materials involved.
Surrey Police urged motorists to avoid the area where possible and advised nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed because of smoke.
Why lithium-ion batteries change the risk
Fires involving lithium-ion batteries are very different from conventional vehicle or cargo fires. These batteries:
- Burn at extremely high temperatures
- Can re-ignite repeatedly
- Produce toxic smoke
- Are difficult to extinguish without specialist techniques
When lithium batteries are damaged, crushed, overheated or poorly stored — all risks associated with waste transport — they can enter thermal runaway, releasing energy rapidly and unpredictably.
This is why fires involving battery waste often take longer to control and require road closures, extended cooling periods and close monitoring.
Fire safety challenges in waste management
The incident highlights a growing challenge for the waste and recycling sector.
As more everyday products contain rechargeable batteries — from phones and laptops to tools, toys and e-bikes — the volume of lithium-ion batteries entering the waste stream is increasing.
Key fire risks in waste management include:
- Batteries incorrectly disposed of in general waste
- Damaged batteries during collection or transport
- Mixed loads containing combustible materials
- Limited segregation of hazardous electrical waste
Once a fire starts in a waste load, it can spread rapidly and is far more difficult to control, particularly in enclosed trailers or near critical infrastructure such as motorways.
Wider disruption from a single fire
Although the fire involved a single vehicle, its impact was far-reaching:
- Closure of a major motorway route
- Delays for commuters and freight
- Smoke affecting nearby communities
- Significant emergency service resources tied up
This mirrors a wider pattern seen across the UK, where fires involving waste vehicles, recycling centres and battery storage increasingly lead to transport disruption and public safety warnings.
A reminder for duty holders
For operators involved in waste collection, transport and recycling, incidents like this underline the importance of:
- Robust fire risk assessments
- Clear procedures for handling and segregating battery waste
- Training staff to recognise and manage battery risks
- Liaison with fire services on emergency response planning
Fire risk assessments in waste management settings must consider not only the risk to staff and vehicles, but also the potential impact on surrounding infrastructure and the public if something goes wrong.
Traffic disruption continues
While firefighters worked to bring the trailer fire under control, traffic remained at a standstill on the northbound M3, with drivers advised to seek alternative routes.
The incident serves as another reminder that as lithium-ion batteries become more common, how we dispose of, transport and manage them safely is becoming a critical fire safety issue — not just for industry, but for everyone sharing the road.
