Horsebox engulfed in 20ft high flames on major road *PICTURES*
A horsebox was engulfed in flames on a dual carriageway in Cambridge last week (9 October).
Witnesses reported 20ft-high flames coming from the horsebox, which was travelling on the A14 westbound between Histon and Girton just after 2pm.
The driver and the horse travelling inside the lorry were able to escape the vehicle before the fire took hold.
“The horsebox was well alight when the fire service arrived and a water carrier from Newmarket was also sent to the incident,” said a spokesman from the Cambridge Fire and Rescue Service.
“Two crews of firefighters had to wear breathing apparatus to battle the flames, which were brought under control within 45 minutes.”
They added that no injuries were reported.
The carriageway was closed at the Histon exit while emergency services assisted at the roadside.
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The eastbound carriageway remained open but police advised drivers to seek alternative routes to avoid long delays.
“Police were called at 2.18pm to reports of a horsebox fire on the eastbound carriageway of the A14 at Girton,” said a Cambridgeshire Police spokesman.
A narrow escape
This is not the first time horseandhound.co.uk reported has reported on a lorry fire.
Two years ago, a family and their pony had a narrow escape when their lorry set alight on the M62 (7 September 2013).
Vincent and Cathy Mulready, and their 10-year-old daughter Pippa, were en-route to the British Riding Clubs national championships at Lincoln when they smelled smoke in the cab.
“We managed to pull over into a rest area and just as we did, flames started coming up through the floor,” said Cathy.
“We rushed round and managed to get the ramp down — by now, the whole front was on fire. We managed to get the pony out and no sooner had we done this than the whole thing suddenly went up in flames.”
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.