Boat fire closes major road as emergency services rush to scene

Drivers are facing delays and a diversion is in place

A fire involving a boat and shed has closed a major Cambridgeshire road on Monday (July 20) as drivers face delays. The A1 is closed in both directions between the A121 at Black Cat and the A603 at Sandy due to the fire as of 1.45pm.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue were called at 11.28am to reports of a fire in the open at Kelpie Marine, off Great North Road. The blaze involves a boat and a shed.

The fire service said “a number of” fire engines and specialist vehicles are at the scene. Bedfordshire Police has urged the public to “avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible”.

National Highways has confirmed motorists are facing delays of around 10 minutes and one mile of delays on the approach. Road closures are in place on both carriageways of the A1, and on School Lane while emergency services deal with the incident, the force stated.

Traffic monitoring site Inrix said: “A1 in both directions closed, slow traffic due to a boat fire from Tempsford Road (Tempsford) to the A421 (Black Cat, Roxton). Congestion to St Neots on the southbound side.”

A spokesperson for National Highways said: “The A1 is closed in both directions between A421 (Black Cat) and A603 (Sandy) due to a fire. Emergency services are on scene. There are delays of around 10 minutes and 1 mile of delays on the approach.”

A diversion route is in place.

Road users travelling northbound are advised to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol:

• From the A1, Sandy Roundabout, take the exit onto the A603 to Bedford.
• Continue on the A603 through Moggerhanger and Willington to the A603/A421 Cardington Cross Roundabout.
• At the Cardington Cross Roundabout take the exit onto the A421.
• Continue on the A421, Great Barford Bypass and re-join the A1 at the Black Cat Roundabout near Roxton.

Road users travelling southbound are advised to follow the hollow diamond diversion symbol:

• From the A1, Black Cat Roundabout take the exit onto the A421.
• Continue on the A421, Great Barford Bypass to the A603/A421 Cardington Cross Roundabout,
• At the Cardington Cross Roundabout take the exit onto the A603.
• Continue on the A603 through Willington and Moggerhanger and re-join the A1 at Sandy Roundabout.