On Thursday, September 24, 2026, an A4 Motorway Truck Fire at Peschiera del Garda caused severe traffic delays along the arterial east-west corridor, requiring an intensive four-hour firefighting operation near the primary toll gate serving southern Lake Garda.
The incident occurred on the westbound-to-eastbound lanes heading towards Venice. The driver of a heavy commercial vehicle transporting food supplies noticed abnormal smoke and overheating originating from one of the rear trailer tyres. Acting swiftly, the driver pulled the articulated lorry into an emergency layby approximately 1.5 kilometres before the Peschiera del Garda motorway exit toll booth.
Four-Hour Emergency Operation Mobilises Regional Fire Brigades
Emergency calls reached the regional fire operations centre shortly after 8:00 AM. Multiple fire brigades were dispatched to the scene, including specialized emergency teams from Bardolino, supported by additional units and heavy water tenders from Castiglione delle Stiviere and Brescia.
Firefighters faced technical complexities due to the vehicle’s specialized insulated cargo bed, constructed with bonded timber layers and synthetic Teflon panelling. The combination of dense materials trapped deep-seated smouldering embers beneath the metal chassis, requiring continuous foam application and thermal imaging cameras to prevent reignition.
Impact on Southern Lake Garda Traffic and Alternate Routes
The prolonged operation resulted in extensive vehicular queues stretching several kilometres backwards towards Brescia and Desenzano del Garda, creating spillover congestion on connecting regional routes, including the SR11 Padana Superiore and the access roundabouts leading to the Peschiera lakefront.
The disruption coincides with regional traffic monitoring across the southern basin, following an earlier serious collision in the Galleria San Zeno on the SP11 Lonato bypass that required helicopter medical evacuation and temporary tunnel closures. Motorists travelling between Milan, Bergamo, Verona, and southern Benaco resorts are advised to consult real-time variable message signs and motorway traffic radio services.
