Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

The I-85 bridge collapse started with this fire

This is the fire that began the blaze which brought down a bridge on I-85.

Credit: WSB viewer

Credit: WSB viewer

This is the fire that began the blaze which brought down a bridge on I-85.
By Kyle Nazario
March 31, 2017

We don't know exactly what caused the fire which brought down a bridge on I-85 near Ga. 400 and brought traffic to a screeching halt. It wasn't terrorism, but it could have been PVC.

However, a viewer of WSB-TV tweeted this photo at the news station of the fire in its infancy. It shows the smallest amount of flames and smoke of any picture of the disaster we've seen so far, making it the earliest record we can find of the fire.

What was underneath the bridge during the I-85 collapse?

Thankfully, as of 11 p.m. Thursday there were not reports of anyone being hurt in the fire or the subsequent bridge collapse. We're rounded up everything you need to know about the I-85 collapse.

About the Author

Kyle Nazario
More Stories

Keep Reading

A father and daughter ride bikes along 10th Street in Atlanta on a frigid Dec. 15, 2025, days before winter's official start. While forecasters predict overall warmer weather this winter compared to the norm, we still can expect some properly cold days interspersed throughout the season. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Winter’s here, but warmer forecast means snow is far from certain

Despite recent frigid temperatures, this season might feel more like a typical late fall in the Peach State, making for slim chances to see any snow.

Woman dies after fall from Emory University building, police say

A woman fell to her death from an Emory University building shortly after midnight Friday, officials confirmed.

College football player killed in DeKalb fire remembered for kind spirit

Georgia Military College student and football player Izaiah Taylor, who had been a standout at South Gwinnett High School, was home for the holidays when the fire ignited.

The Latest

A motorcycle and school bus collided along a busy road in northwest Atlanta on Jan. 5, 2023. State stats provided by the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program show that bikers who take a safety class are 95% less likely to be in a fatal crash. (John Spink/AJC)

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Gridlock Guy: Getting a motorcycle for Christmas? Get some schooling.

Winter’s here, but warmer forecast means snow is far from certain

Woman dies after fall from Emory University building, police say

Featured

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney — pictured during a hearing Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 — has cleared the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Judge keeps alive subpoenas of Fulton County’s 2020 ballots

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney clears the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election.

Winter’s here, but warmer forecast means snow is far from certain

Despite recent frigid temperatures, this season might feel more like a typical late fall in the Peach State, making for slim chances to see any snow.

Philanthropy helped shape Atlanta. Here’s how that legacy endures.

Philanthropy helped shape Atlanta. And foundation-giving has had huge ripple effects not only in the metro area, but far beyond Georgia.