North Wales multi-agency responders acted swiftly and professionally following a significant crane lorry fire in the westbound Conwy Tunnel on the A55, which caused major disruption and triggered a complex emergency response.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFRS) was alerted to the incident at 13:48 on Thursday afternoon. The Service’s Operational Tactical Plan—developed through joint emergency preparedness exercises with partner agencies—was immediately enacted. In light of the scale of disruption and resource demand, NWFRS declared a Major Incident at 14:59, which was later stood down as the situation was brought under control.

Images from the scene illustrate the extensive response effort.

At the peak of the operation, 10 fire appliances, 4 specialist vehicles, a welfare unit, and 8 officers were deployed to the scene. Crews worked in intense heat and difficult tunnel conditions to bring the fire under control by 16:20. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.

Fire and rescue teams remained at the scene into the evening alongside partners including the North & Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent and structural engineers to complete vital safety assessments. Their efforts enabled the reopening of the eastbound tunnel under contraflow in the early hours of Friday morning.

Throughout the incident, NWFRS worked in close coordination with North Wales Police, the North & Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent, and other partner agencies to protect the public, manage recovery operations and issue coordinated safety messages on a timely basis.

Mike Plant Head of Planning, Performance and Transformation for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said:

"The response to this incident was an outstanding demonstration of professionalism, resilience, and teamwork. Our crews, officers, and control staff operated under extremely demanding circumstances, and their quick, decisive actions made a real difference in preventing further escalation. I want to extend my sincere thanks to all NWFRS staff and our partners who supported the response and helped protect our communities."

This incident underscores the critical importance of joint-agency collaboration and routine multi-agency preparedness exercises, which play a vital role in ensuring an effective and coordinated emergency response.