Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky
11:33, 03 Jan 2026Updated 11:34, 03 Jan 2026
A38 Car Fire
This dramatic video shows the moment a vehicle caught fire – bringing traffic to a standstill earlier today.
The incident was reported at about 8.30am on the A38’s eastbound carriageway at the Woodpecker Interchange at South Brent.
Police attended the blaze, close to the turn-off to the B3372, but it is understood that no one was injured.
Witness Chris Harris told PlymouthLive: “It was 200m after the South Brent slip-road. The police were on the scene, diverting traffic. No one was injured.”
A vehicle on fire on the A38, near Plymouth, on January 3, 2026(Image: Submitted)
Video taken by Mr Harris shows a vehicle engulfed in flames with police vehicles in attendance.
It shows traffic stopped on the east-bound side of the dual carriageway, but traffic able to drive west without a problem.
The Devon Expressway’s east-bound lanes were blocked for several hours following the fire.
Although the road reopened at about 9.50am, the AA reported that delays continued and traffic was moving very slowly.
The queues didn’t start to east until about 11am after which the road returned to normal.
Click here to join PlymouthLive on WhatsApp and we’ll send breaking news and top stories directly to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .