The Daniel Carter Byrd Bridge, I-471 over the Ohio River, is closed due to fire

Update, 9 a.m.: The large blaze that engulfed the Daniel Carter Byrd Bridge was caused by a fire on a playground under the bridge early Friday, according to the Cincinnati Fire Department.

According to Lindsay Hegele, public information officer for the fire department, the fire did not start in a car as originally reported.

The fire started at the Bicentennial Commons playground on Sawyer Point, Hegele said. The fire caused extensive damage to the park, and damage and soot are visible on the bridge.

As far as the fire department knows, there were no hazardous materials, Hegele said. There are no reports of casualties.

Interstate 471 remains closed as of 9 a.m., nearly six hours after the fire was first reported. Pete Rose Way is also closed under the bridge. Traffic on the Ohio River remains open.

Smoke and several flares were visible after the fire was extinguished after 9 a.m

Fire crews, Duke Energy personnel, and crews from the Ohio and Kentucky Departments of Transportation remain on the scene.

Daniel Carter Byrd Bridge, also known locally as The Big Mac Bridge was opened in 1977 and carries approximately 97,900 vehicles across the Ohio River each day.

Update, 8:15 a.m.: The fire that closed the Daniel Carter Byrd Bridge early Friday morning was first reported after a car fire near the bridge, according to the Cincinnati Fire Department.

Firefighters were called to the vehicle fire at 3:20 a.m., according to a statement released by County Fire Chief Matt Rotert. According to the statement, crews found “a large outdoor fire at Sawyer Point Park that had engulfed the play area.”

“Due to the extent of the fire, multiple main streams and large lines of fire were deployed in a defensive position to protect the bridge structure and extinguish the fire,” the fire department said.

Although smoke was still visible after 8 a.m., the fire department says the fire is under control. Crews are working on site, and “companies remain at the scene” conducting final extinguishing, major repairs and rescues, the department notes.

Information about the cause of the fire has not yet been made public. Duke Energy and the Department of Transportation are also helping.

The bridge and all lanes of Interstate 471 over the Ohio River are expected to remain closed for an extended period of time.

– Cameron Knight, The Enquirer

Original report: The Daniel Carter Byrd Bridge and both sides of Interstate 471 over the Ohio River are closed to the morning commute due to a large fire and reports of explosions early Friday.

First responders are concerned about the structural integrity of the bridge, so state inspectors have been asked to arrive as soon as possible.

“Bridge 471 will be closed for a while until we can assess the damage on the bridge. It is likely that this will be carried over to rush hour traffic,” a first responder said over the police radio around 4am.

Multiple 911 callers initially reported the car fire on southbound I-71 on the Cincinnati side of the bridge at 3:20 a.m.

Cincinnati Fire officials said crews found a large outdoor fire at Sawyer Point Park that had engulfed a play area.

“Due to the extent of the fire, multiple main streams and large fire lines were deployed in a defensive position to protect the bridge structure and extinguish the fire. The fire is localized, enterprises remain at the scene, which carry out final extinguishing, major repairs and rescue work.

“The Cincinnati Fire Investigation Division is working to determine the cause. Additional assisting agencies called to the scene include Duke Energy and the Ohio Department of Transportation. The northbound and southbound lanes of the I-471 bridge are currently closed to all traffic.”

Earlier Friday morning, firefighters reported seeing “concrete falling from the north side of the bridge” and “significant deformation of the metal under the bridge to the point where it may collapse,” according to initial emergency reports.

“We have firefighters on the scene of a fire on Pete Rose Way under the I-471 bridge. The highway is closed in both directions near the river,” Cincinnati firefighters said in an updated social media post shortly before 5 a.m.

Inspectors from the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Department of Transportation are on scene and ready to inspect the bridge once the fire is completely out and safe, according to Jake Ryle, KYTC spokesman.

Ryle said his manager told him the fire started under the bridge.

“I know we have ODOT and KYTC bridge inspectors on site right now and they will begin inspecting the bridge once the fire is out and it’s safe to do so. They will inspect the bridge, checking it to determine if it is safe to allow traffic back on the bridge. We don’t have a timeline yet for when that will happen.”

–Jennifer Baker, Fox19