More than 15 firefighters raced to the scene of a two-car crash on the M25 near Potters Bar on Monday, with dramatic photographs laying bare the scale of the emergency response on one of the country’s busiest motorways.
Fire crews, police officers and paramedics were all sent to the anticlockwise carriageway just beyond junction 24 for Stagg Hill on October 6, where two lanes had to be closed while teams dealt with the aftermath of the collision.
What the M25 Potters Bar crash photos show
The pictures show the extraordinary turnout up close: groups of firefighters gathered around one of the wrecked cars, carefully examining the damage, while their colleagues stand ready nearby. Police officers can be seen managing the flow of traffic around the scene as ambulance crews attend to those caught up in the crash.
Images like these are a reminder of how quickly an ordinary journey can turn serious — and of the army of responders who turn out when it does. You can follow our live coverage of the M25 Potters Bar crash for the latest updates as the situation develops.
Traffic misery for miles around
The closure of two anticlockwise lanes sent delays rippling across the network. Congestion stretched back two miles from junction 25 for Enfield as drivers were funnelled past the scene.
Motorists heading the other way added to the problems, with many slowing down to look at the emergency response. The rubbernecking caused extra hold-ups as far back as junction 23 for South Mimms, turning a localised incident into region-wide disruption.
The incident also serves as a reminder of the risks emergency crews take every day. Firefighters and traffic officers regularly put themselves between live traffic and casualties, often at the roadside of 70mph carriageways and in far from ideal conditions.
A troubled stretch of the orbital
It is the latest in a spate of incidents to hit this section of the M25 in recent weeks. Days earlier, a separate crash between Potters Bar and Enfield also forced two lanes to close and left drivers facing long queues, while another collision near junction 24 blocked two lanes of the clockwise carriageway.
The disruption comes as drivers brace for a wave of overnight closures, with 22 separate shutdowns planned on the capital’s orbital this month.
Why so many crews turn out to motorway crashes
To drivers stuck in the tailbacks, the number of firefighters sent to a two-car crash can look surprising — but it is entirely deliberate. Fire crews are trained to treat every serious collision as a potential rescue until everyone involved is accounted for and confirmed safe.
Their job goes far beyond tackling flames: making damaged vehicles safe, cutting free anyone trapped inside, dealing with spilt fuel and oil, and shielding the scene so paramedics can work. Police close the lanes, keep traffic moving and begin piecing together what happened, while ambulance crews triage and treat the injured.
Working on a live motorway is one of the most dangerous environments firefighters face. Crews position their engines to shield the scene — a tactic known as “fend off” — creating a protective barrier between casualties and fast-moving traffic, which is another reason so many appliances can be seen at a single incident.
The M25 is famously the busiest stretch of motorway in the country, which is why even a brief closure can send queues stretching for miles. National Highways urges drivers to help the response rather than hinder it: obey red X signals, move over for emergency vehicles, never slow down to stare, and if you break down, reach an emergency area where possible and wait behind the barrier.
What happens next
The damaged vehicles will need to be recovered and the carriageway inspected before all lanes can reopen, with delays likely to linger even after the scene is cleared. Motorists are advised to check traffic updates before setting off, allow extra time for journeys around Potters Bar and Enfield, and consider alternative routes while the clear-up continues.
Emergency services had been contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of writing.
