A large lorry fire on the M62 near Bolton, Greater Manchester, caused severe travel disruption and delays of around two hours for commuters this morning, 10 February 2026. The fire was reported at about 6:00am (Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters were called at roughly 5:45am) on the eastbound carriageway between junction 18 (Simister Island) and junction 19 (Heywood).
Crews from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service attended to extinguish the blaze, which involved a heavy goods vehicle. According to National Highways North West, two of the four lanes remain closed while recovery teams work to remove the vehicle; service providers are expected to assess and carry out any necessary carriageway repairs and clean-up.
The incident caused long queues, with congestion backing onto the M60 interchange and affecting traffic on the M61. Drivers were warned to expect delays of at least two hours on approach and to allow extra time for their journeys while recovery work continues through the morning.
Local streets in Farnworth and around the Kearsley spur were reported to be busier than normal as drivers tried to avoid the motorway delays, with extra traffic noted on the A666 St Peter’s Way during the morning rush.
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