A woods fire burning off Highway 225 in Spanish Fort disrupted traffic on the roadway Wednesday, forcing crews to reduce the highway to one lane as they worked to keep the flames from spreading.
The fire broke out in a wooded area near Spanish Fort Estates, sending smoke across the highway and prompting an immediate response from local fire personnel. With visibility reduced and flames close to the roadway, officers were called in to help manage the flow of vehicles through the area.
Rather than shutting the highway down completely, police officers escorted drivers past the burning area a few vehicles at a time, keeping traffic moving safely on the single open lane while crews continued working the fire line. Motorists traveling through the Spanish Fort area were urged to slow down, watch for personnel and equipment along the shoulder, and expect delays until the scene was cleared.
Woods and brush fires are not uncommon in Baldwin County during periods of dry weather, when fallen leaves, pine straw and underbrush can ignite easily and spread quickly through wooded lots. Fire officials routinely caution residents against outdoor burning during dry stretches and ask anyone who spots smoke or flames near roadways to notify 911 promptly so crews can respond before a fire grows large enough to threaten nearby property or traffic corridors.
No injuries were reported in connection with the fire. Drivers in the Spanish Fort area were advised to seek alternate routes if possible while the one-lane restriction remained in place, and to follow the direction of officers stationed along Highway 225 until the roadway reopened to normal traffic flow.