M6 closed due to fire

[WillowTheWhisp]

Just heard on the radio that there is a massive fire at a chemical waste plant near Preston and the M6 is closed between junctions 31a and 32.

Police are syphoning people off the motorway and have advised locals to stay indoors. The reporter said that flames were shooting hundreds of feet into the air and barrels of chemicals were exploding. A school in the area is closed for today and motorists are being advised to stay away.

[Col.Kurtz]

Heard about this on the local radio, sounds like it's brought the motorway to a standstill.

[WillowTheWhisp]

It sounds grim. Apparently the motorway has been emptied as the police didn't feel it was safe to leave at a standstill even. I wonder how toxic those chemicals are?

The cynic in me can't help wondering if this is an accident or a deliberate act.

[accymel2006]

It is very bad apparently getting to Preston atm, Dave is stuck in gridlocked traffic on way to work a 30 min approx journey now taking hours - they will be a lot of businesses with late employees this morning.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Busman isn't headed that way today which is unusual because he often has day trips to Fleetwood/Blackpool. School trips to the SeaLife Centre, grannies to Fleetwood market and that kind of thing. Getting to Blackpool is apparently nigh on impossible from here at the mo too.

How near to this thing does Dave work?

[accymel2006]

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

How near to this thing does Dave work?

Quite near to Preston town centre & its his busy day an all LOL, he's not impressed being sat on motorway grinding to a halt. I think a lot of the motorways linking off the M6 will be chocked.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Yes, it's probably affecting other roads too as all the motorway traffic will have to use them instead. I wonder how far away they are diverting people?

[accymel2006]

I dont know apart from J32a Fulwood - J32 broughton interchange i cant remember if Dave said they have totally closed motorway south bound or not cant u tell i dont drive hehehehehehe

[WillowTheWhisp]

On the radio they said the whole of the motorway was closed, north and southbound because of the toxic chemicals in the air.

[lancsdave]

Absolute nightmare. Over 3 hours for my normal 30 minute trip. Worse thing is I don't normally work Mondays but I have to work the first working day of every month.. which of course is today :yell:

[forceten]

My son goes to Kirkby Lonsdale every monday and set off as usual today at 8am. Got a phone call from him at 10am to say he had only got as far as the Tickled Trout, and was gridlocked. He finally got to Kirkby Lonsdale at just after 11am.

He said it was an aboslute nightmare