ATLANTA — Residents in a northeast Atlanta neighborhood are raising alarms after a string of fires at homeless encampments have stirred memories of the catastrophic I-85 bridge collapse nine years ago.
Now, the community fears a repeat disaster could be looming.
Cedar Chase sits on the East side of 85, near where 400 branches off.
Neighbors say homeless encampments repeatedly set fires that can spiral out of control.
“We’re Cedar Chase; we’re made of wood,” Chris Cassidy, a resident, said.
“What goes through my mind is I’m glad it’s rained the past couple of days,” Cory Knopp said.
Channel 2 previously reported on a series of fires in the nearby area back in February. On Monday, Firefighters responded to Armor Drive as 50 feet of trash from a homeless encampment burned underneath the interstate.
“How big does it have to be for action to happen?” Cassidy said.
Residents say this is far from the first time. They showed Channel 2 at least nine incident reports of past fires.
“We get told by different agencies that another agency is responsible for it,” Cassidy said.
Nine years ago, a fire set by a homeless man led to the collapse of the I-85 bridge, snarling traffic for weeks and costing millions in repairs.
Encampment fires have also damaged Cheshire Bridge, resulting in the closure of that road for months.
“I mean, we’re in the same circumstance. I mean, it’s just a matter of time. It’s either gonna be another landmark or people’s homes,” Cassidy said.
In a statement, the city said:
“The City is aware of the ongoing public safety and health concerns at this location and has previously worked with partners to decommission the encampment. Statements that the City and other partners have ignored or avoided the issue are categorically false. Much of the property involved is owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation, requiring continued coordination between the City and State.
This week, APD and GDOT conducted another site visit with five contractors to develop proposals to clean and secure the affected areas. GDOT is pursuing an expedited procurement process with the goal of beginning work as early as next week. APD will maintain a presence at the site as this work moves forward.
The Dickens Administration will continue working with Councilmember Wan, GDOT, and our partners toward a sustainable solution that protects both nearby residents and vulnerable unhoused individuals in the area.”
Residents say they have heard similar promises before, and hope this time things may be different.
“I don’t feel safe. I fear every time leaving the house, and I smell smoke, wondering if, as I said, it’s gonna be a big one,” Kopp said.
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