The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge was closed in both directions in Philadelphia and South Jersey on Sunday due to a nearby trailer fire that sent plumes of black smoke into the air and had people worried of a repeat of the Interstate 95 collapse.
Luckily, no one was hurt in the Sunday after fire and the road remained stable.
A trailer caught fire around 4:40 p.m. at a truck and bus yard on 6400 State Road. The fire occurred on the north side of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, which connects New Jersey Route 73 in Palmyra, New Jersey, with Pennsylvania Route 73 in Northeast Philadelphia’s Tacony neighborhood, officials said.
Cameras from NBC10 as well as footage from an NBC10 viewer captured large plumes of smoke rising above the bridge. Officials said the trailer had tires inside of it, which is what led to the thick smoke.
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"I was very concerned," Philadelphia city councilmember Mike Driscoll, who was driving on I-95 when he spotted the smoke, told NBC10. "Anytime you are near public transit, highway, a bridge."
Kayshawn Walker, another witness who lives near the bridge, told NBC10 he was fishing with his family a few blocks away from the fire when he smelled something burning.
"I looked over and there were all these flames," Walker said. "It came all the way over to where we were and I would say we were a good three city blocks from where the fire originated. It was a lot of smoke."
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Both Councilman Driscoll and Walker said the fire initially reminded them of the deadly fire and bridge collapse on I-95 in Philadelphia back on June 11. Fortunately, the outcome of Sunday's incident wasn't nearly as catastrophic.
The fire was placed under control and the bridge was reopened around 8 p.m. No injuries were reported.
Officials have not yet revealed the cause of the fire. The fire marshal's office is currently investigating.
A spokesperson confirmed with NBC10 that the property where the fire took place is owned by PECO and leased to a third party.
"The equipment housed on the property is not PECO-owned and the fire did not impact PECO equipment or service to PECO’s electric and natural gas customers," the spokesperson wrote. "We are reviewing the lease agreement to determine if we are able to share additional information."
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