Lorry bursts into flames on major Scots road as emergency services race to scene

A major road in Ayrshire was closed overnight after a lorry burst into flames on Tuesday evening. Emergency services raced to the scene on the A77 at Glenapp Church near Girvan after the alarm was raised at around 8pm.

The road is the main route from Glasgow and Ayrshire to the ferry port to Belfast at Cairnryan. Drivers faced a 53-mile diversion via the A75 and A714. A picture taken from the scene on Tuesday evening showed the vehicle engulfed in flames.

A plume of black smoke could be seen billowing up into the sky with a passing onlooker seen standing at their car nearby. No one was seriously injured as a result of the blaze.

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A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 7.45pm on Tuesday, 10 September, 2024, police were made aware of a one-vehicle crash on the A77 near Ballantrae, resulting in the vehicle leaving the road.

"There were no reports of any injuries. Arrangements are being made to uplift the lorry and its contents (scaffolding). The road remains closed and a diversion is in place."

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 7.39pm on Tuesday, 10 September, to reports of a lorry on fire on the A77 outside Cairnryan. Operations Control mobilised two fire appliances to the scene, where crews worked to extinguish the fire.

"One casualty was handed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service. Firefighters have now left the scene after ensuring the area was safe."

At around 2.30pm on Wednesday, the road reopened. Traffic Scotland said: "The road has fully reopened following the earlier vehicle fire. Traffic can now pass through in both directions."

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