19/04/2011

M1 Fire Started Deliberately

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has confirmed that Friday's fire which affected a section of the M1 was started deliberately.

Firefighters were called to the fire in a scrap yard located directly under the M1, between junctions two and three during the early hours of Friday morning. The fire, close to Ellesmere Avenue in Mill Hill, north west London, was brought under control by 40 firefighters and eight fire engines.

A number of gas cylinders were involved and a temporary hazard zone was put in place by the Brigade.

Around 50 people living in properties close to the scrap yard were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

The M1 has remained closed for several days. Engineers say the motorway will not be fully open to traffic until next week.

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: "We believe that the fire was started deliberately and the incident has now been handed over to the Metropolitan Police for investigation."

(BMcN/GK)

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