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Complete closure after truck fire on A8: chaos for commuters in Pforzheim
A truck burned on the A8 near Pforzheim, which led to several hours of traffic jams and an extensive closure in the direction of Karlsruhe.
Complete closure after truck fire on A8: chaos for commuters in Pforzheim
On Monday morning, September 18, 2025, a serious incident occurred on Autobahn 8 near Pforzheim: a car transporter loaded with several vehicles caught fire in the construction site area between Pforzheim-Ost and Pforzheim-Nord. The fire initially led to a complete closure in both directions, affecting thousands of commuters and drivers. The situation briefly caused traffic jams that stretched for kilometers as many had to be rerouted. Motorists had to expect delays of over an hour in some cases as the city center of Pforzheim was heavily affected by alternative traffic.
How Borken newspaper According to reports, the fire department was alerted early in the morning, but the driver of the truck was able to get to safety in time. Luckily there were no injuries. Police confirmed that the entire road surface towards Karlsruhe had to be replaced due to the fire, which further contributed to the traffic jams. The total damage is estimated at around 420,000 euros, with both the tractor and the load being completely destroyed.
Technical defects are a common cause of fire
According to initial investigations, a technical defect could have been responsible for the fire. The cause of the fire has not yet been finally determined, but there were also reports from witnesses who stated that the truck was loaded with flammable materials, including cooking oil. This encouraged the fire to spread quickly and made extinguishing work more difficult. The firefighting team was also confronted with special challenges in the construction site area, such as: NAD Rhine noted.
Truck fires occur again and again in Germany, especially those made by MAN. These vehicles, which are often used to transport dangerous goods, pose an increased risk. According to a report from NDR Between January 2023 and August 2025 alone, 33 truck fires were registered on the A7, most of which involved a MAN vehicle. The Federal Motor Transport Authority has already started recalls due to defective oil filter components that could contribute to the risk of fire.
Sustainable effects on the transport infrastructure
The effects of the fire were also felt on the infrastructure. After the road in the direction of Stuttgart was reopened on Monday afternoon, it took until the evening before the direction of Karlsruhe was passable again. It was necessary to renew the road surface and repair heat damage to the crash barriers and asphalt. Residents expressed dissatisfaction with the diversion of traffic, but also showed understanding for the closure measures that were necessary to keep everyone safe.
Finally, it should be noted that technical defects are responsible for many truck fires and the issue must be taken increasingly seriously. The fire brigade and police are working on improving operational strategies in such dangerous situations in order to be able to react even more quickly in the future.