Major Fire on M1 Northbound Causes Traffic Chaos, Authorities Advise Avoiding Area
January 11, 2026
A major fuel and vehicle fire on the M1 Northbound near Toddington/J12–J13 disrupted traffic, with multiple lanes closed and congestion building as delays extended to hours.
Emergency services, including the Fire Service and ambulance crews, responded with on-site firefighting, thermal imaging, and casualty care, while an air ambulance was later involved for a crash further north.
The incident spilled onto the M6 and prompted live motorway advisories; authorities issued avoid-area warnings and continued updates as the scene evolved.
journalists and agencies will provide ongoing updates as the situation develops, with contact information available for readers seeking further details.
National Highways and regional offices posted congestion maps and live updates across social channels to guide drivers away from the affected area.
National Highways initially reported the incident and maintained a live information feed, including lane closure notices and congestion levels for East region.
Traffic guidance included a live map and repeated notices on X (Twitter) about closures and travel delays as recovery work began.
As recovery progressed, at least one eastbound lane reopened while the westbound carriageway gradually cleared, though residual delays remained in place.
Drivers were urged to avoid the area where possible, with officials warning of substantial delays and live updates provided via local outlets.
Prior closures caused significant congestion with expectations that normal traffic would not resume until the early hours of the following morning.
Authorities warned motorists to seek alternative routes and plan for extended journey times as surface damage was being repaired.
Live blog coverage continued with firefighters actively at the scene and ongoing updates as the incident unfolded.
Summary based on 11 sources
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Sources

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