A huge fire closed a stretched of the M25 in both directions amid fears of “secondary explosions”.
Motorists were halted between J22 (St Albans) and J21A due to the “significant” fire close to the motorway, according to National Highways.
It warned: "Due to the risk of secondary explosions, smoke and debris affecting the carriageway, the motorway has been closed in both directions as a precaution."
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are currently responding to an incident in Ventura Park, Old Parkbury Lane, Colney Street, St Albans.
"If you live locally, we advise to keep doors and windows closed and please avoid the area while emergency crews carry out their work."
In an update early on Tuesday afternoon, National Highways said the motorway had reopened on the advice of firefighters, although motorists still faced long delays.
Follow the latest updates below...
Fire chief speaks following explosion
19:46 , Tom Place
A fire chief has said that it will be “several hours” until the fire is extinguished following an explosion close to the M25 earlier today.
Deputy chief fire officer Mark Barber said: "I would like to reassure residents that firefighters are working hard to bring the situation under control."
He said ten fire engines remained at the scene on Monday afternoon and crews had "successfully contained the fire within the unit".
"Crews are continuing to tackle the fire, but we expect it to be several hours before it is extinguished."
He also thanked the public for their patience and understanding.
Details following M25 chaos
18:58 , Tom Place
The M25 closed due to the risk of a "secondary explosion, along with smoke and debris affecting the carriageway" earlier today, with 15 crews at the scene.
The motorway was shut for around one hour, later reopening with 40mph speed restrictions.
The explosion took place at Malibu Sun, a sun protection company which was founded in 1999.
People were asked to keep their doors and windows closed and to avoid the area, and there were also road closures in St Albans, at Colney Street and Old Parkbury Lane.
Congestion remains despite lanes reopening
18:31 , Tom Place
All lanes have reopened on the M25 anticlockwise between J13 and J12 near Staines following an earlier traffic collision.
According to the latest update from National Highways, there are currently delays of around 90 mins on the approach, and approximately 5 miles of congestion.
M25 reopens but delays of over 40 minutes remain
15:23 , Megan Howe
The M25 has re-opened but delays of more than 40 minutes remain, National Highways said.
There are 40 mph speed restrictions following instructions from fire crews, and "due to the volume of traffic, it may take time for congestion to clear."
Strong smell of 'burning timber and plastic'
14:54 , Niva Yadav
While smoke continues to billow above the industrial estate, the Herts Adviser is reporting a strong smell of “burning timber and plastic” filling the local area.
The fire is now contained, but is still ablaze.
It is still unclear at which unit the fire took place.
Local road closures remain in place
14:41 , Niva Yadav
Herts Police has confirmed that local road closures are still in place as a result of the fire.
There are closures between Radlett Lane and Old Parkbury Lane, as well as between Smug Oak Lane and the Premier Inn Hotel.
Motorists are being asked to avoid these roads until further notice.
Meanwhile, the M25 is open in both directions though speed restrictions remain in place.
Fire could take several hours to extinguish
14:36 , Niva Yadav
The fire could take several hours to extinguish, the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has said.
In a statement, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Barber said: “Our firefighters have been working alongside colleagues from London Fire Brigade to bring the fire under control, and have successfully contained the fire within the unit.
“Crews are continuing to tackle the fire, but we expect it to be several hours before it is extinguished.”
Blaze contained but still burning
14:33 , Niva Yadav
The blaze at an industrial unit near St Albans is now contained, The Standard understands.
However, the fire at one of the units in the park is still ablaze with fire crews still working to extinguish it.
Dramatic footage shows warehouse fire
14:29 , Niva Yadav
Scenes from earlier today show the warehouse fire billowing smoke across local homes in Hertfordshire.
Some wrote on social media that smoke could be seen from Potters Bar and from Bushey, while others reported seeing smoke from the other side of the M25.
It is unclear whether the fire is under control.
Smoke now clearing over the M25
13:51 , Niva Yadav
Live camera footage shows that smoke above the M25 is now beginning to clear as crews continue to tackle the fire.
Images show smoke rising above Thameslink railway
13:42 , Niva Yadav
Images taken earlier today show smoke rising above the platform at Radlett Station on the Thameslink.
Plumes of grey smoke can be seen rising into the air over the top of railway lines.
The service is not expected to have been disrupted.
Warehouse unit fire near StAlbans & M25! pic.twitter.com/7rgaXTatmh
— Enrique Guadiz (@EnriqueGuadiz) August 11, 2026
Congestion continues near Colney Street on M25
13:39 , Niva Yadav
Traffic near the industrial estate is still clearing as the M25 reopens.
Google Traffic is reporting slow traffic on the approach to the industrial estate on the M25 and also along Radlett Road and Watling Streetm just off the motorway.
Second M25 closure due to fire in 48 hours
13:25 , Niva Yadav
Just yesterday, the M25 was forced to close after a HGV caught fire in Kent on Monday afternoon.
The motorway was forced to shut anti-clockwise between Junction 6 and 5 while crews tackled the blaze.
Today’s fire saw a section of the M25 close between Junctions 22 and 21A due to a fire on a nearby industrial estate.
Crews are still tackling to get the blaze under control, though the M25 has now slowly reopened.
15 appliances still tackling blaze
13:16 , Niva Yadav
Some 15 appliances from the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are still on scene tackling the blaze, though the M25 has now reopened.
It is understood that businesses in the area have been evacuated, while residents have been advised to keep windows closed.
Looks like a warehouse on fire in St Albans pic.twitter.com/J7bnLGZNPN
— Caitlin Danaher (@CaitlinDan) August 11, 2026
Earlier footage shows extent of huge blaze
13:08 , Niva Yadav
Footage captured earlier today shows the extent of the huge blaze at Ventura Park.
Big plumes of dark grey smoke rise above the industrial estate, forming thick clouds over the motorway.
M25 right now!! pic.twitter.com/ZX1pPh8F8d
— ‘A Dandy in Aspic’ (@AlanN69375) August 11, 2026
Delays of around 40 minutes
13:05 , Niva Yadav
Delays of around 40 minutes are expected in both directions as a result of the fire.
National Highways is working to reopen the M25 gradually, but have warned that it may take time for congestion to clear.
Speed restrictions of 40mph apply.
Update 4 - M25 J22 to J21A
— National Highways: East (@HighwaysEAST) August 11, 2026
The #M25 has reopened in both directions with 40 mph speed restrictions, following instructions from fire crews.
Due to the volume of traffic, it may take time for congestion to clear.
Delays of more than 40 minutes, with 4 miles of congestion. pic.twitter.com/VAAEyURcgG
Where is the fire?
13:01 , Niva Yadav
The fire is located at Ventura Industrial Park in St Albans. There are an estimated 15 units at the park, with tenants including Forward Trucking, Hitachi, DPD, Malibu, and Franke Coffee Systems.
It is not clear at this stage which units were affected.
The industrial estate is located between Junctions 21 and 22, and just 3 miles from the M1 (Junction 6A).
It is also two miles from Radlett Station on the Thameslink. National Rail is not reporting any disruption to the service.
One person taken to hospital, two treated on the scene
12:56 , Niva Yadav
The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed that one person was transported to Watford General Hospital for treatment.
“A further two were assessed and discharged on scene”, the service confirmed.
A total of three ambulances, three ambulance office vehicles, a Hazardous Area Response Team, and two air ambulances were dispatched to the warehouse fire today.
M25 to reopen in both directions
12:47 , Niva Yadav
The M25 is now in the process of reopening in both directions, a National Highways spokesperson has confirmed.
Traffic officers are now in the process of removing the closure and reopening the carriageway, though delays are still expected in the area.
Trains running normally as fire rages on
12:38 , Niva Yadav
More footage on social media shows black smoke visible from the nearby railway as the fire rages on.
Trains are still expected to be running as usual, while crews have been dispatched to tackle the blaze.
M25 still fully closed at J22. Fire at Malibu suncream warehouse 😔 . Video 11.48am. Trains running normally. pic.twitter.com/oVBw9JKEGr
— Ben Greenwood (@BenGreenwood999) August 11, 2026
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service responding to fire
12:35 , Niva Yadav
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are responding to the incident at Ventura Park.
In a social media post, the brigade has advised locals to keep their doors and windows closed and to avoid the area while emergency crews carry out their work.
Black smoke billows over town from industrial fire
12:27 , Niva Yadav
Footage on social media shows black smoke billowing over the town and blowing onto the UK’s busiest motorway.
Flames can also be spotted tearing through the industrial estate.
M25 - warehouse fire just by junction 21a pic.twitter.com/aFJdd5u2c7
— KateA (@KateA52984426) August 11, 2026
National Highways warn "risk of secondary explosions"
12:24 , Niva Yadav
National Highways has warned there could be secondary explosions as a huge fire tears through the industrial estate near St Alban’s.
In a statement, it said: “The M25 is closed in both directions between J22 (St Albans) and J21A due to a significant fire at a commercial premises close to the motorway.
“Full closures are now in place in both directions. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have 15 fire appliances at the scene tackling the blaze.
“Due to the risk of secondary explosions, along with smoke and debris affecting the carriageway, the motorway remains closed as a precaution.”
Risk of explosion closes M25 in both directions
12:21 , Niva Yadav
The risk of explosion at a large warehouse has closed both carriages of the M25 between junctions 22 and 21A.
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue was called to the huge blaze in Ventura Park near St Alban’s at 09.21 this morning.
National Highways has confirmed the motorway is shut, while 15 crews now work to extinguish the flames and tackle the risk of explosion.
Drivers are being advised to “allow significant extra time for their journey and consider alternative routes.”
No Southern service between Clapham and Watford Junction until end of the day
10:54 , Megan Howe
A power failure between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction means that some lines running between these stations are closed.
Southern trains will either be cancelled or revised to not run between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction.
Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Minor delays on the Central and Jubilee lines
09:22 , Megan Howe
There are minor delays on the Central line between North Acton and West Ruislip / Ealing Broadway and between Leytonstone and Epping / Hainault via Newbury Park due to train cancellations.
Good service on the rest of the line.
There are minor delays across the Jubilee line due to train cancellations.
How can I get to Heathrow by avoiding the Elizabeth line?
07:30 , Megan Howe
If you want to avoid the disruption on the Elizabeth line today, there are a number of ways you can still travel to Heathrow airport.
You can use the Piccadilly line to travel to all Heathrow terminals.
Many London Overground services also serve Heathrow. You’ll need to make a change at an interchange station such as Stratford, Liverpool Street, Clapham Junction or Shepherd’s Bush. You don’t need to buy separate tickets to do this, you can just tap in and out using the same payment method across both networks.
Buses are also another option for travelling to Heathrow.
You can travel to Southall on Elizabeth line services and take the 105 London bus, or you can travel to Hayes and Harlington and take the SL9 or 278 London bus.
For Terminal 5, you can travel to Hayes and Harlington or West Drayton and take the 350 London bus.
And, for Terminals 4 and 5 you can travel to Southall and take the 482 London bus, or you can use the free shuttle service at Heathrow Airport to travel to Terminals 4 and 5.
Reduced service on two London Overground lines due to driver shortages
07:11 , Megan Howe
There will be a reduced service on the Windrush and Mildmay lines today due to a shortage of London Overground train drivers.
This will affect services travelling between Stratford and Richmond, and also between Highbury & Islington and West Croydon.
Services will be affected until around 3pm today.
Major disruption on the Elizabeth line expected until the end of the day
06:53 , Megan Howe
The Elizabeth line is experiencing severe delays between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport due to a tunnel being closed for safety reasons.
So, if you’re travelling to Heathrow today, you might want to seek an alternative route.
Major disruption is expected to last until the end of the day, with services being cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes.
Passengers are being advised to use the Piccadilly line or London Overground services if travelling to Heathrow or central London.
District line update
Monday 10 August 2026 17:18 , Tom Place
The part suspension on the District line has now been lifted, following the earlier trespass incident at Richmond.
However, there are severe delays between Wimbledon and Edgware Road while TfL deal with a fire alert.
London buses are accepting valid tickets via any reasonable route.
Bakerloo line update
Monday 10 August 2026 16:38 , Tom Place
There are severe delays on the Bakerloo line due to train cancellations.
London Buses, Lioness line, Thameslink and London Northwestern Railway services are accepting tickets via any reasonable route.
Trespassers cause District line suspension
Monday 10 August 2026 16:25 , Tom Place
The District line is part suspended between Turnham Green and Richmond due to trespassers on the track at Richmond.
London Buses are accepting valid tickets via any reasonable route.
There is a good service on the rest of the line.
Fire alert at Woodford
Monday 10 August 2026 16:15 , Tom Place
There is no service on the Central line between Woodford and Epping & Hainault via Grange Hill due to a fire alert at Woodford.
Central line delays
Monday 10 August 2026 15:48 , Tom Place
Train cancellations are currently causing minor delays on the Central line.
The delays are between North Acton and West Ruislip & Ealing Broadway, and between Leytonstone and Hainault via Newbury Park & Epping.
Tree on the track at Enfield Town
Monday 10 August 2026 15:37 , Tom Place
A tree on the track has suspended a section of the Weaver line this afternoon.
The blockage, which is at Enfield Town, means there is no service between that station and Edmonton Green.
TfL are currently working on removing the tree, and there is a good service on the rest of the line.
Tickets are also being accepted on London Underground.
Elizabeth line update
Monday 10 August 2026 15:25 , Tom Place
There are currently severe delays on the Elizabeth line between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport due to a tunnel being closed for safety reasons.
Passengers are being advised to use the Piccadilly line to travel between Heathrow Airport and Central London.
There remains a good service on the rest of the Elizabeth line.
Minor delays on Bakerloo line
Monday 10 August 2026 15:08 , Niva Yadav
There are minor delays across the entire Bakerloo line due to train cancellations.
Separate incident causes chaos on M25
Monday 10 August 2026 13:51 , Niva Yadav
There has been a separate incident on the M25 involving multiple vehicles.
It comes just hours after a multi-vehicle collision caused standstill traffic on the same motorway this morning.
Amended service between Exeter St Davids and London Waterloo
Monday 10 August 2026 11:42 , Niva Yadav
The prolonged hot weather has taken its toll on the rail network, with the soil between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids entirely dried out.
As a result, the stability of the tracks has been altered and trains will be required to run at a reduced speed.
Journeys are expected to take between 3 and 27 minutes longer than usual.
Chiltern Railways faces disruption into London Marylebone
Monday 10 August 2026 10:41 , Niva Yadav
Chiltern Railways is facing disruption on routes between Bicester and London Marylebone.
Lines have reopened following a safety inspection of the track, but National Rail is advising that trains may still be delayed by up to 50 minutes or cancelled.
Reduced service between Gatwick Airport and Purley
Monday 10 August 2026 10:22 , Niva Yadav
Due to an earlier trackside fire between Gatwick and Purley, there is a reduced service on the Gatwick Express.
Some routes on the Southern and Thameslink railway are also delayed.
Disruption is expected until 1pm.
What happened at Seven Sisters?
Monday 10 August 2026 10:02 , Niva Yadav
Passengers have reported an evacuation at Seven Sisters station in north London at around 7:30am.
The message on the tannoy was to please leave the station immediately due to an emergency.
One passenger, who got on the Tube at Tottenham Hale, said they then had to get off when the train stopped at Seven Sisters.
"We waited for ages at Seven Sisters for the train to move ahead of us. We were then told to get off and wait for the next train. Then there was an announcement to get out of the station due to an emergency," the passenger said.
Travel update
Monday 10 August 2026 09:48 , Niva Yadav
As we head out of rush hour, the TfL network is still facing widespread disruption.
Perhaps most significantly, the Elizabeth line is still part suspended between Heathrow Terminals and Hayes & Harlington. The Heathrow Express is running twice an our.
There are minor delays on the Central line and severe delays on the Victoria line, while the Weaver line is part suspended between Enfield Town and Edmonton.
Disruption on Thameslink after passenger falls ill
Monday 10 August 2026 09:21 , Niva Yadav
A person was taken ill on a train in the Loughborough Junction area, impacting trains between Herne Hill and London Blackfriars.
Trains running between these stations may be delayed or revised by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 11am.
Minor delays on Central line
Monday 10 August 2026 09:19 , Niva Yadav
There are minor delays on several Central line routes this morning due to train cancellations.
The following routes are affected:
- North Action and Ealing Broadway
- North Acton and West Ruislip
- Epping and Woodford
- Hainault and Leytonstone
- Haintault and Woodford
Victoria line back up and running
Monday 10 August 2026 09:16 , Niva Yadav
The Victoria line is now back up and running following an earlier part-suspension.
However, the service is still subject to severe delays due to an earlier points failure at Brixton.
Queues building at the scene of multi-vehicle crash
Monday 10 August 2026 09:09 , Niva Yadav
Footage captured by National Highways at around 8:10am this morning shows queues forming at the scene of the crash.
Traffic does seem to be moving, but motorists should expect delays.
'Flooding' caused by water leak in tunnel
Monday 10 August 2026 09:03 , Niva Yadav
The earlier reported “flooding” between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow terminals was caused by a water leak in a tunnel.
Disruption is expected until the end of the day, with just one line currently available.
How to get to Heathrow
Monday 10 August 2026 09:02 , Niva Yadav
The Heathrow Express is still running a reduced service twice an hour from Paddington.
But you can also use the Piccadilly line which is still running a good service.
There are also buses, including the 105 from Southall or the 278 and 350 from Hayes and Harlington.
Multi-vehicle crash on M25
Monday 10 August 2026 08:38 , Niva Yadav
A multi-vehicle crash has brought traffic to a standstill on the M25 this morning.
Traffic heading anticlockwise between J22 (St Albans/London Colney) and J21A (St Albans) is affected.
Heavily reduced service to and from Heathrow
Monday 10 August 2026 08:32 , Niva Yadav
The disruption on the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express is expected to last until the end of the day, National Rail is reporting.
A tunnel has been closed for safety reasons meaning Elizabeth line services will not run between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow.
The Heathrow Express will run twice an hour in each direction.
Weaver line part suspended
Monday 10 August 2026 08:22 , Niva Yadav
As rush hour takes a hold, the Weaver line on the London Overground is part suspended between Enfield Town and Edmonton Green.
This is while TfL remove a tree from the track at Enfield Town.
Seven Sisters evacuated
Monday 10 August 2026 08:00 , Niva Yadav
It is being reported that Seven Sisters station has been evacuated.
The north London station is on the Victoria line, which is currently facing severe delays due to a points failure at Brixton.
It is unclear what is behind the evacuation at this stage.
Severe delays on the Victoria line
Monday 10 August 2026 07:45 , Niva Yadav
Delays between Walthamstow Central and Victoria on the Victoria line have now been upgraded to severe.
It comes as the service faces suspension between Victoria and Brixton due to a points failure.
Victoria line part suspended
Monday 10 August 2026 07:26 , Niva Yadav
The Victoria line is part suspended between Victoria and Brixton due to a points failure at the latter.
There are minor delays on the rest of the line. Tickets are being accepted on London buses.
Tunnel closure between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow terminals
Monday 10 August 2026 07:24 , Niva Yadav
TfL is now advising that the severe delays and part suspension on the Elizabeth line is due to a tunnel closure.
The line remains part suspended between Heathrow terminals and Hayes & Harlington, while there are severe delays in both directions between the latter and Paddington.
Reduced service on Windrush line
Monday 10 August 2026 07:12 , Niva Yadav
There is a reduced service on the Windrush line.
The 7:00 train from Clapham Junction to Dalston Junction will now start from Surrey Quays at 7:24.
More 'flooding' in east London
Monday 10 August 2026 06:48 , Niva Yadav
Bethnal Green station is also closed this morning due to “flooding.”
It is the second flooding incident to be reported on the network this morning, though there has not been a proper downpour since June.
⛔ Bethnal Green station -
— TfL Access. (@TfLAccess) August 10, 2026
Bethnal Green Road exit closed due to flooding
➡️ To re-plan journey: https://t.co/UoeJflrJdy 📱 https://t.co/U8hfp6DVVx
Flooding on Elizabeth line
Monday 10 August 2026 06:46 , Niva Yadav
Unsurprisingly, commuters are confused about the reported “flooding” on the Elizabeth line on Monday morning.
The operator is reporting flooding between Hayes & Harlington and Paddington.
However, London is currently experiencing one of its driest spells on record. The capital hasn’t seen a proper downpour since June, with July going entirely without rain.
Severe delays due to flooding when I can’t remember the last time it rained takes some doing, sensational work Elizabeth line
— sid 🧃🌍 (@siddzz___) August 10, 2026
Minor delays on Victoria line
Monday 10 August 2026 06:43 , Niva Yadav
With the exception of minor delays on the Victoria line and the part suspension the Elizabeth line, TfL is operating a good service on all other lines.
The tram is partly closed between Arena and Elmers End, East Croydon and Church Street/Reeves Corner. This is due to planned engineering works.
Elizabeth line part suspended and subject to severe delays
Monday 10 August 2026 06:41 , Niva Yadav
There are severe delays on the Elizabeth line between Hayes & Harlington and Paddington in both directions.
The line is also part suspended between Heathrow terminals 4 & 5 and Hayes & Harlington.
This is due to flooding.
Tunnel closure impacts trains to Heathrow
Monday 10 August 2026 06:38 , Niva Yadav
There is a reduced service on Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express trains to and from Heathrow terminals, National Rail is reporting.
This is due to a tunnel being closed for safety reasons between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow terminals.
Disruption is expected until 9am.
Good morning
Monday 10 August 2026 06:37 , Niva Yadav
Welcome to the Standard’s live travel coverage.
We’ll bring you the latest on your commute on Monday morning.
