Small fire breaks out near I-85 bridge that collapsed in 2017

ATLANTA — Authorities temporarily held all lanes of the Buford Spring Connector while they responded to a fire under the highway. The fire happened just across from the part of I-85 where a fire caused an overpass to collapse in 2017.

NewsChopper 2 was over the interstate where white smoke was seen pouring from underneath the bridge. Drivers on nearby I-85 appeared to be slowing down through the area, but no lanes were blocked on the interstate.

Northbound traffic was diverted off the connector at Piedmont Road.

“We’re putting out the fire under the bridge,” Atlanta fire Capt. Cortez Stafford told AJC.com. “We can’t have people driving over our hose lines.”

Stafford said crews later extinguished what turned out to be a trash fire. GDOT then inspected the bridge and gave it an all-clear.

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 did not compromise the interstate bridge.

We’re working to learn more about the latest fire.

Information from Atlanta Journal-Constitution was used in this report

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