A serious fire on the M5 southbound near Birmingham has forced the closure of a section of the motorway, causing significant disruption for drivers this afternoon. The blaze, which broke out off-network at around 12:40pm, rapidly spread to an embankment adjacent to the carriageway, prompting a major response from emergency services.
Motorway Shut Between Junctions 3 and 4
The affected stretch lies between Junction 3 (for Halesowen and Quinton) and Junction 4 (for Bromsgrove and Stourbridge). As of 2:45pm, two of the three southbound lanes remained closed while firefighters worked to bring the incident under control. Traffic was being held, with drivers facing extensive delays on approach.
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to the scene at 12:40pm. A spokesperson told BirminghamLive: "We were called out at 12:40 to a fire near Bromsgrove. We currently have three appliances out on scene. The incident is marked as active."
National Highways Issues Warning
National Highways has urged motorists to plan ahead, stating there is currently no estimate for when the road will fully reopen. A spokesperson said: "Lanes one and two (of three) remain closed on the M5 southbound between J3 and J4 due to an off-network fire which has spread to the embankment. Firefighters continue to work at scene. There is no estimate for reopening. Delays are building. Please plan ahead."
The latest traffic update from Inrix reported: "Two lanes closed and very slow traffic due to serious fire on M5 southbound, between J3 Quinton Expressway (Halesowen/Birmingham) and J4 (Bromsgrove/Stourbridge). Lanes one and two (of three) are closed."
Social Media Alerts and Ongoing Disruption
West Midlands Roads also took to social media platform X to alert drivers, posting: "Carriageway blocked due to a fire. Delays on approach. Plan your journey ahead."
This incident has caused significant knock-on effects for commuters and freight traffic using one of the Midlands' busiest motorways. With no immediate reopening time, drivers are advised to seek alternative routes or delay their journeys until the situation is resolved.
