Firefighters from Penrith, along with crews from Carlisle East and Carlisle West stations, and an aerial ladder platform, were engaged in a battle against the flames for several hours.

The emergency call was received at approximately 10:10 a.m, prompting the swift mobilisation of two fire engines from Penrith and resources from Carlisle. Upon arrival, the firefighters were met with a fully engulfed HGV, which had also ignited a rapidly spreading grass fire.

Due to the nature of the cargo being carried by the HGV, the fire posed significant challenges to the crews involved. Despite their best efforts, extinguishing the blaze proved to be a formidable task. However, after a tireless struggle lasting several hours, the firefighters managed to successfully bring the incident under control and facilitate the recovery of the destroyed HGV.

Reflecting on the incident, Penrith Fire Station expressed their appreciation for the dedicated efforts of all the personnel involved. "All crews worked very hard to extinguish the fires, but the HGV fire itself proved very difficult to extinguish due to the load it was carrying," stated the fire station.

The consequences of the incident were felt throughout the area, as the blaze caused substantial traffic congestion and resulted in lengthy tailbacks. The gridlocked traffic extended not only along the M6 Penrith but also along the A66 and through Penrith, significantly disrupting travel on Saturday in the area.

The M6 Northbound reopened late Saturday evening with just one lane open to enable recovery of the vehicle and carriageway repairs to take place.

The M6 Southbound had also been closed for a period due to the intensity of the blaze.

The fire and rescue services have not reported any casualties or injuries resulting from the incident.

Picture: Penrith Fire Station