A tyre repair van caught fire on a busy dual carriageway in Golders Green forcing firefighters to close the road over fears of an explosion.
Two large air compressors were stored in the back of the vehicle leading emergency services to shut the road in both directions and set up a hazard zone as a precaution.
Police and fire crews were called to the A406 North Circular at the junction with Heathfield Gardens at 5pm yesterday where the fire had broken out.
The driver was able to pull over near a railway bridge and escaped unhurt before the police and fire crews from Finchley, Hendon and West Hampstead arrived.
Services on the Northern Line were suspended for about one hour between Golders Green and Edgware as a precaution due to the railway bridge's proximity to the accident.
TfL said the road closure caused major disruption in the area at the peak of rush hour.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire and the road reopened in both directions by 8.30am.
One westbound carriageway remains closed this morning while engineers carry our emergency repairs to the road as a result of the fire.
A TfL representative said the lane should reopen later this afternoon once resurfacing is completed.
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