M7 rubber-neckers taking photos of lorry fire almost led to crashes - firefighters
'Dangerous, irresponsible behaviour' by motorists stopping to take photos for social media almost led to crashes on the busy M7 motorway near Monasterevin as emergency crews responded to a big truck fire on the road, it has been claimed.
The Laois County Fire and Rescue Service and Kildare Fire Service responded to the truck blaze with Gardaí around 7pm on Saturday.
The service said the extensive scale of the blaze forced the closure of the busy road.
However, the Laois service said the behaviour of some drivers who came upon the scene between Junctions 14 and 15 could have made the situation a lot worse.
At least one motorist stopped directly parallel to take a photograph at the height of the blaze.
The picture soon ended up on facebook and other media.
A Laois Fire Service spokesperson confirmed what happened to the Leinster Express.
"Several near-misses occurred during the fire with cars slowing and stopping in the far carriageway of the motorway to take pictures. (It was) very dangerous irresponsible behaviour.
"If one of the cars stopping to take pictures had ended up in a pile-up in the other carriageway it would have been a very serious situation.
"Six or seven cars stopped in the opposite carriageway when we were there. Numerous cars behind them had to take evasive action," said a spokesperson.
Plastic sheeting burning foam was used to extinguish the fire which broke out between 6.30pm and 7pm on
Saturday.
Firefighters extinguished the fire before working on an extensive clean-up of the scene.
Gardaí, the National Ambulance Service and the Motorway Assistance unit of Transport Infrastructure Ireland also attended.
All Photos by Laois Fire & Rescue Service.