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Tractor trailer on fire along I-85 in Gwinnett County

Published  November 2, 2016 2:25pm EDT
News
FOX 5 Atlanta

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Credit: Sandra Wallace

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Firefighters responded at 2:21 p.m., to a reported woods fire on I-85 southbound, north of Hamilton Mill Road, in unincorporated Buford, GA.

Additional information was provided by the Gwinnett 911 Center with callers indicating a tractor trailer carrying cars was also on fire.

When firefighters arrived they found the trailer portion of the tractor trailer carrying 8 cars well involved. Firefighters worked quickly to control the tractor trailer fire and requested additional fire units to control the fast moving woods fire. Due to the dry conditions, the fire extended to the median of the interstate as well as the wooded area. I-85 south bound was closed for several hours because of the fire and for the safety of all personnel mitigating the scene. A total of 37 firefighters responded to the scene and have estimated 110 acres has burned with no damage to any homes or businesses. The residents of a local subdivision were asked to remain inside their homes due to the heavy smoke conditions in the area.

Several units from the Georgia Forestry Commission assisted in containing  the fire with 3 bulldozers digging a fire line break on the perimeter and monitoring conditions with a fixed wing aircraft. Not only did the Georgia Forestry Commission assist in extinguishing the fire, Gwinnett firefighters received support from Gwinnett County Police for traffic control, Gwinnett County Police Aviation Unit to monitor the fire and survey the scene, Georgia Department of Transportation and Willard Wrecker Service. At the time of this release, 1 lane of I-85 southbound has opened.

Firefighters will remain on the scene throughout the night monitoring hotspots. Drivers and homeowners in the area will still see and smell smoke due to several deep seated smoldering fires within the fire break. 

Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services wants to remind all residents to use caution this Halloween weekend and refrain from any outdoor burning due to the dry conditions.