A car transporter carrying seven cars caught fire on the M1 north of Catthorpe Interchange on Monday evening, shutting the motorway northbound and partly blocking it southbound. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said no injuries were reported.
Multiple fire crews were called to the northbound side of the motorway at about 18:00 BST. Drivers were told to expect delays as the fire service worked with crews from Warwickshire and Northamptonshire.
Catthorpe Interchange M1 closure
The closure hit both directions in different ways. Northbound traffic was fully stopped, while southbound drivers faced a partial blockage on a stretch that carries through traffic across Leicestershire.
That meant the incident affected more than the transporter itself. A vehicle fire on a live motorway can quickly force lane restrictions or a full closure while crews deal with the scene and keep other traffic clear.
Leicestershire fire crews at scene
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service was assisted by fire crews from Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. The scale of the response shows how quickly a fire involving a transporter and multiple cars can require support across county borders.
No injuries were reported, which left the main consequence as traffic disruption rather than harm to people at the scene. For drivers, the immediate step was to avoid the affected stretch of the M1 and plan for delays.
The cause of the fire was not stated. The remaining open issue is what started the blaze that spread through the transporter and its load of seven cars.
