
London fire brigade says investigation into scrapyard fire that closed the M1 motorway has been handed over to police Fire authorities in London have said they believe the scrapyard blaze that closed a stretch of the M1 motorway and caused travel chaos at one of the busiest travel times of the year was started deliberately. A spokeswoman for the London fire brigade said the police were taking over the investigation into Friday’s incident in which an elevated section near Mill Hill in north London was badly damaged. “We believe the M1 fire was started deliberately. We have handed the incident over to the Metropolitan police,” she said. A Met spokeswoman said the fire had been treated as suspicious from an early stage: “The investigation continues, nothing has changed.” The blaze closed seven miles of Britain’s main north-south road between junctions 1 and 4 as many motorists were preparing to use the road for the Easter getaway. Two lanes have reopened in both directions. Transport authorities say they hope all lanes will reopen before Easter but warn there could be speed restrictions. London Transport Crime guardian.co.uk