Atlanta Fire Department: Entire I-85 bridge is compromised
Around 7 p.m. Thursday, crews were battling a massive fire on I-85 northbound just south of Ga. 400 when a section of the highway collapsed, officials said.
Fire officials extinguished it on Thursday night after it burned for more than an hour, fire officials said.
» RELATED: 5 things to know about the fiery I-85 bridge collapse
The bridge on I-85 northbound just south of Ga. 400 near Piedmont Road collapsed about 7 p.m., Atlanta fire spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford said.
As of 10:25 p.m. Thursday, Stafford said a cause of the fire can’t be determined because inspectors can't get under the bridge due to structural concerns.
"The entire bridge is compromised," Stafford said. "Right now, it's still dangerous to go under there."
» PHOTOS: Atlanta I-85 fire -- Highway bridge collapses near Piedmont Road
Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell R. McMurry said the catastrophic incident significantly affected I-85 and the broader transportation network.
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
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