Cheek says the incident happened at 3 p. m. with four vehicles involved - one of them a tractor-trailer which hit another vehicle, sparking a fire that burned for a time under the bridge. Fire on i-85 atlanta today 2021. Neither did he say how the fire started. Someone is inevitably going to argue that this kind of catastrophe could not have been predicted, that this type of conduit isn't normally all that flammable, and that no one in charge of anything important at GDOT should be held responsible for a decision made 10 years ago to store the stuff under a bridge. He was subsequently arrested. Monroe County Emergency Management Agency encouraged motorists to keep a close eye on GDOT advisories in a post on its Facebook. Authorities eventually tracked down two additional suspects, 39-year-old Sophia Brauer and 57-year-old Barry Andrew Thomas, in connection to incident that's forced millions of motorists to alter their normal traffic patterns.
The interstate — a major artery for the U. S. South that runs through the heart of Atlanta — was closed indefinitely. GDOT says other time-saving methods include prefabricated steel diaphragms and accelerated concrete-mix designs. Witnesses say troopers were telling cars to turn around on the bridge because they were concerned about its integrity. UPDATE on bridge collapse on I-85: The fire has been extinguished. A portion of Interstate 85 highway in Atlanta has collapsed after a massive fire. Georgia Entertainment Scene. "Our guys got here quickly and shut down the interstate and said: 'No one else is driving over this bridge, '" he said. Smoke and flames billowed from manhole covers in the area. Police said the highway was closed at the DeKalb County line, the television station reported. Southern Fried Soccer. Friday morning, officials said they don't yet know what caused the fire or how long repairs will take.
Trump Georgia Investigation. Before You Leave, Check This Out. I-85 North is closed indefinitely in the area. Many motorists are stranded on the highway and could be there for hours. "This incident, make no bones about it, will have a tremendous impact on travel.
Am Engine company from Cowetta County Fire was hit by a pickup truck Tuesday morning while operating at a previous crash on I-85 North in Coweta County. Massive fire causes overpass to collapse on Atlanta interstate. WRBL will update this article with any new information as it becomes available. He said he heard several explosions beneath the bridge, followed by a slow rumbling. "I do not know why they did or what the source of their transport was, " Deal said. Explosions and fires were seen rising from nearby sewer manholes. VIDEO: I-85 bridge in Atlanta collapses during massive fire. "But those are questions that will hopefully be answered at least by tomorrow morning. Newsroom Ethics Code.
The Environmental Protection Agency took samples of the air and of the water in a nearby creek; results will be available in about two weeks, EPA spokesman Larry Lincoln said. GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. Fire on i-85 atlanta today and tomorrow. — Two people died after a semitrailer carrying fuel caught fire Saturday after crashing with a passenger vehicle on a Georgia highway in suburban Atlanta. The Imperfect Alibi. Demolition of these sections started Friday and will last into Monday, McMurry said. "There was a 40-feet or higher wall of fire.
Part of the bridge was damaged. He identified them as Basil Eleby, Sophia Bruner and Barry Thomas. The bridge collapse effectively "puts a cork in the bottle, " according to Georgia's state patrol commissioner, Mark McDonough. Michael Cheek tells WSB Radio, "I-285 westbound and eastbound are shut-down. Atlanta's Interstate 85 was first built in 1953 and reconstructed in 1985 to accommodate increased traffic. Fire on i-85 atlanta today article. Instead, it's the easy story — pictures of the black guy in an orange jumpsuit that they've done a thousand times before. Photos: Truck fire blocks I-85 N. © 2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
And all means to go across the Ashford-Dunwoody Road bridge at that location are closed-off as well, due to concerns about the structural integrity of the bridge. " So far, no injuries are reported due to the collapse. Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report. ATLANTA - A massive fire that caused an overpass on Interstate 85 to collapse in Atlanta was contained as of late Thursday. Atlanta's notoriously tangled commutes were thrown into disarray when a bridge on Interstate 85 collapsed after a fire burned for more than an hour under the northbound lanes, shutting down the busy highway through the heart of the city during rush hour on Thursday afternoon. Part of I-85 collapses in Atlanta due to massive fire. That huge block of armed concrete fell like it was made of bread crumbs, and it collapsed on the street. 'Fell with a big kaboom'. Marietta-based C. W. Mathews has been selected to lead the massive project, which has been fast-tracked due to the collaborative efforts undertaken by local, state and federal officials. Both vehicles caught on fire. Smoking also puts even more pollution into the air. Unprotected: Senior Care.
Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. Eventually, the incredible temperatures that appear in a conflagration of this magnitude have deteriorated an overpass on the I-85, which collapsed under its weight. For more information about DPH, visit. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the fire burned for more than an hour under I-85 northbound near Piedmont Road, spewing large clouds of black smoke skyward.
Allergist gives tips for record-breaking pollen season. With the interstate closed, Barnhart said his Friday morning commute had taken him about 30 minutes rather than the normal 10 to 15. They will say that they took security precautions by storing it behind a locked gate. The shutdown likely sets the city up for traffic headaches for months after creating navigation hell Thursday with jams that extended five miles or more and stranded motorists for hours. The truck ran off the right side of the roadway and struck the overhead road sign structure. The fire broke out just south of Ga. 400 about 7 p. m., the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. It's unclear what caused the fire, the Atlanta Fire Department said. Digital Subscription. After about 50 yards, McLaughlin could see clearly again. Multiple media outlets report traffic was bumper to bumper on Buford Highway as people tried to escape the backup from the collapse. The moment we hear anything like that will be the moment we should ask for Russell McMurry's resignation. Someone has apparently been violating policy for about a decade — McMurry said it had been under there since as early as 2006.
Soon, interstate traffic was stopped and turned around, creating long jams. Manage Subscription. Firefighters first battled the blaze using water from tanker trucks because the area has few hydrants, he said. Update 9:06 p. m. EST Feb. 1: Police identified the victims as Emerald Lynn, 31, and Yonas Worku, 44. McLaughlin slowly followed the taillights of an SUV through the smoke. Atlanta News Briefing. Real Life with Nedra Rhone. Meanwhile, the Atlanta fire has kindled industry discussion about the practice of staging construction materials beneath bridges and other elevated structures, even for short periods. Ga COVID-19 Dashboard. Seek medical attention if you are having difficulty breathing or if your symptoms worsen. If convicted, he faces one to 10 years in prison. "It's not like someone would have dropped a match and it started. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
The material had been stored there "for some time, probably since 2006 or (2007), " McMurry said. Social media users posted surreal images showing motorists -- before the collapse -- choosing to drive into the black smoke that billowed onto the highway as the fire burned beneath them. "The speculation I heard was it was some PVC products that caught fire, " Gov. Locked On Sports Atlanta. Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, headaches, stinging eyes or a runny nose. Nathan Deal told reporters. First responders will remain on the scene. Fire department spokesman Cortez Stafford said two men and one woman were arrested.
As concrete began falling from under the bridge, firefighters were asked to step back, Stafford said. About 5:15 a. m., the fire truck was blocking the far left lane near mile marker 49, as a Ford F-150 behind the fire truck slowed, a Dodge Ram hit it. Tony Radoszewski, president of the Plastics Pipe Institute, a trade group based in Irving, Texas, told CNN the flammability of HDPE is relatively low. A section of Interstate 85 collapsed in a massive fire Thursday evening, causing a traffic nightmare in Atlanta. The Georgia Department of Transportation said the bridge was built in 1971 and was in good condition prior to the fire. Take a look at the stacks there, of a product made from petroleum, stored up against the pylons of the bridge, and tell me a fire marshal would sign off on that. By using this website, you accept the terms of our.
GDOT has yet to announce the cost, pending approval from federal agencies that are expected to fund a significant share of the work. About the Georgia Department of Public Health.