Atlanta police have detained a man in connection with a small brush fire near the I-85 northbound ramp at Cheshire Bridge Road, Officer Donald Hannah said.

The fire was just north of the Ga. 400 exit, near the site of the recent I-85 bridge collapse.

Hannah said the area was quickly contained and an investigation was underway.

No other details were released on Monday’s fire, the second in less than a month in the area.

I-85 has been shut down since March 30 when a fire engulfed part of the interstate. In less than 24 hours after the fire, officials arrested Basil Eleby, 39, after two witnesses told authorities he placed a chair inside a shopping cart and set it on fire. The flames spread to high-density plastic conduit stored under the bridge by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

He was indicted on arson and criminal damage to property charges April 7 and could face 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine if convicted.

— Please return to AJC.com for updates.

In other news:

DeKalb County firefighters are watering the buckled road as police work on alternative routes for commuters.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Sgt. Demetrius Garmon with MARTA police explains how he monitors activities on MARTA buses using a real-time system that operates multiple cameras from one of the operation centers at the Emergency Communication Center on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

5 things to know about ... Atlanta's Downtown Connector