A small trash fire under a bridge near I-85 Thursday — the second reported in that spot within the past week — brought back fears of 2017 when a massive blaze caused the interstate bridge to collapse.
However, the Georgia Department of Transportation has inspected the bridge as a precaution and found no problems, agency spokesman Scott Higley said.
The smoke was reported about 1 p.m., with authorities holding all lanes of the Buford Spring Connector while they responded to the fire. White smoke was seen pouring out from beneath the connector and the interstate, according to footage from NewsChopper 2.
TRAFFIC ALERT: All lanes blocked on Buford Spring connector in Atlanta due to nearby fire. LIVE traffic conditions here: https://t.co/K4ScJ2hle7 pic.twitter.com/Z0pK9YVGDw
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) January 23, 2020
While no I-85 lanes were blocked, drivers did appear to slow down through the area due to the smoke.
By 1:45 p.m., the southbound lanes of the Buford Spring Connector had reopened, Atlanta fire Capt. Cortez Stafford told AJC.com. The northbound lanes, which remained closed a little longer for crews to pick up their hose lines, reopened later in the afternoon.
There were no reports of damage, Stafford said.
Engine and Truck 29 have extinguished a trash fire under the Buford Hwy Connector near Lakeshore Drive. Both SB lanes of BuHi Conn. are back open. One NB lane remains closed as firefighters pick up hose lines. Use CAUTION and SLOW DOWN when passing emergency vehicles. #AFRD pic.twitter.com/Gghczm8EkV
— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) January 23, 2020
Another fire in the same area Friday sent smoke over I-85. That fire was caused by “outside burning,” according to officials.
RELATED: Brief brush fire sends smoke over I-85 bridge
Debris from a “homeless encampment” was found in the area after the fire was extinguished, Stafford said at the time. It also did not compromise the interstate bridge.
GDOT noted that the General Assembly outlawed “urban camping” in 2018. Higley said GDOT works with local police, including the Atlanta Police Department, “to enforce the law and help mitigate this problem to the best degree we collectively can.”
“The ultimate goal is to get these individuals to a location that is safe for them and provides services to get them back on their feet, while ensuring the safety of the motoring public is not compromised,” he said.
— Staff writer David Wickert contributed to this article.
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