Bremen Nordwestknoten closed following hay trailer fire

A trailer carrying ten tons of hay caught fire early Friday morning on Oldenburger Straße near the Nordwestknoten in Bremen, causing significant traffic disruptions. The 45-year-old driver reported flames appearing on the left rear axle following a suspected tire blowout. The driver successfully uncoupled the tractor unit from the burning trailer and reached safety before emergency services arrived to find the trailer fully engulfed in flames.

Due to heavy smoke, authorities implemented a full closure of the Nordwestknoten in both directions starting at 4:50 AM. While some lanes were reopened by 7:20 AM, recovery and cleaning operations continued throughout the morning. The Autobahn GmbH des Bundes has commissioned bridge inspectors to examine the steel structure of the Nordwestknoten to ensure the intense heat did not cause structural damage.