Fire beneath Vine Street bridge forces its closure as Athens officials assess damage

A bridge along Vine Street in an east Athens neighborhood was closed Wednesday and will remain closed to traffic for an undetermined amount of time due to a fire that police said occurred at a homeless camp underneath the structure.

The road leading to the bridge, which crosses Trail Creek, was closed while damage to the bridge is assessed, according to Athens-Clarke police Lt. Shaun Barnett.

“The inspection is ongoing as unfortunately we suspect some damage,” a spokeswoman for the Athens-Clarke County Public Works Department said Thursday.

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If repairs are needed, a section of the street will be closed until repairs conclude, she said. The city said the street is closed from Herman Street to First Street.

The fire was investigated by the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department, which arrived at the scene at 9:20 p.m., according to Battalion Chief Nate Moss.

The initial unit requested the assistance of additional units due to the size of the fire, which occurred in an area where tents were set up under the bridge, according to Moss.

The fire is believed accidental, he said.

"This sort of occurrence is a danger and a possibility when people set up tents or living areas in such close proximity to bridges and roadway structures," Moss said.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens-Clarke officials assess damage to bridge caused by fire underneath