Truck fire on A81: full closure causes traffic jams in rush hour traffic!

Truck fire on A81: full closure causes traffic jams in rush hour traffic!

On Monday afternoon, July 14, 2025, a dramatic incident occurred on the A81 motorway between Sulz and Empfingen. A truck was completely engulfed in fire in the construction site area. The alarm was raised at 4:20 p.m. by the police and fire department, who immediately rushed to the scene. Due to the fire and the subsequent extinguishing measures, the motorway is completely closed in both directions, which leads to significant traffic delays during rush hour. The full closure is expected to last for a long period of time, resulting in long tailbacks across the region.

The A81, also known as the “Spätzle Highway”, is an important transport connection between Würzburg and Gottmadingen, which is often characterized by high traffic density. This density is often the reason for many accidents involving different types of vehicles, including trucks, cars, motorcycles and buses. Autobahn GmbH had previously announced that the Sulz motorway junction would be partially closed from July 31st, which could further aggravate the situation. According to Tag24, information is continuously provided about current accidents, closures and rescue operations.

Consequences of the truck fire

The fire brigade has brought the situation under control, but the question remains as to how long it will take until the A81 is passable again. The road traffic authorities are already expecting significant traffic jams caused by the full closure. The construction site area was already heavily frequented before the incident, which further complicated the traffic situation.

The incidents on the A81 are not isolated, as the motorway is a known accident site, particularly at peak times. The density of traffic makes it a dangerous section, especially for freight traffic. According to the information from [Schwarzwälder Bote](https://www.schwarzwaelder-bote.de/content.zwischen-sulz-und-empfingen- Dicher-rauch-ueber-a81-vollsperrung-wegen-lkw-brand.ec879013-f97a-4079-99fb-a762fc27417f.html), the coming days on this route are also critical, as there will continue to be Traffic jams and unforeseen traffic obstacles can be expected.

In such situations, it is important that drivers always keep themselves informed about the current traffic situation and consider alternative routes so as not to get stuck in long tailbacks. The emergency services are working tirelessly to defuse the situation as quickly as possible and to reopen the traffic routes.