Fire engulfed a car transport tractor-trailer on I-85 near Buford Saturday afternoon and spread to a nearby wooded area, touching off a 110-acre woods fire, and closing the southbound lanes for several hours.
A spokesman for the Gwinnett County Fire Department said the trailer portion of the 18-wheeler, carrying eight cars, was "well-involved" in flames when the first fire units arrived.
"Firefighters worked quickly to control the tractor-trailer fire and requested additional fire units to control the fast-moving woods fire," Charles Wells said. "Due to the dry conditions, the fire extended to the median of the Interstate as well as the wooded area."
Wells said 37 firefighters responded to the scene and "(we) 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 three bulldozers, digging a fire line break on the perimeter. Not only did the Georgia Forestry Commission assist in extinguishing the fire, Gwinnett firefighters received support from Gwinnett County Police for traffic control, a Gwinnett County Police Aviation Unit which was used to monitor the fire and survey the scene, Georgia Department of Transportation and Willard Wrecker Service.
Wells said 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.
