Smoke billowed across the M25 during rush-hour amid a huge fire that broke out at a pallet yard near the motorway in north London.
More than 70 firefighters were called to the scene in Enfield after the warehouse caught ablaze in the early hours of Tuesday.
Around 30 propane gas cylinders at risk of exploding had to be moved from the site, as traffic built up on the orbital road while ash and sparks drifted across both carriageways.
#Enfield fire is near #M25 J24-J25 so please take extra care on that stretch of the motorway https://t.co/HIIZheOALZ pic.twitter.com/mMHtDpU8a1
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) March 1, 2016
The fire brigade was called to the yard, where a stack of wooden pallets and a timber storage warehouse were alight, at about 2am on Tuesday.
Crews from ten fire engines attended the scene and dozens of propane gas cylinders were moved. However, there was believed to be other cylinders involved in the fire, although the cause is not yet known.
A few more photos from the #enfield fire. @LondonFire pic.twitter.com/7xfOe8t607
— Paul Wood (@PaulWood1961) March 1, 2016
As well as the warehouse, eight cars, seven forklift trucks, six lorries and three caravans were caught up in the fire.
Two caravan residents were evacuated from the scene before emergency services arrived in the early hours and were uninjured.
@LondonFire pic.twitter.com/WwQKkAffBd
— Paul Wood (@PaulWood1961) March 1, 2016
London Fire Brigade’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis, who was at the scene, said it was a difficult fire to fight but crews were working hard to bring it under control.
Congestion was reported between junctions 24 and 25 of the M25 following the fire, but this had cleared by 9am.
The fire was brought under control just before 6am but a spokesman for the fire service said crews were expected to remain at the scene all day.