Large Fire Closes Ohio River Bridge, Steel Structure Damaged

A massive fire that broke out overnight has closed a busy bridge on the Ohio River that runs between Cincinnati and northern Kentucky on Friday.

Part of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge's steel structure is said to have been damaged by the fire, and Interstate 471 was shut down.

The Cincinnati Fire Department said the fire broke out near a playground in a park under the bridge. No injuries have been reported.

Footage from local news outlets shows flames reaching above the bridge located in downtown Cincinnati. Fire crews said steel beams were warped by the fire and pieces of concrete had fallen from the structure.

What the Fire Department Says

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Lindsay Haegele, a public information officer for the Cincinnati Fire Department, said the fire was started in the playground of the Bicentennial Commons at Sawyer Point. The park was said to be badly damaged.

Haegele also said the fire was not started in a vehicle as had been first reported.

Seven hours after the first reports of the fire, the playground "was still smoldering," The Cincinnati Enquirer said, and Cincinnati Parks spokesperson Rocky Merz said the playground was "significantly damaged."

"Sawyer Point Park playground was heavily involved in fire and the fire actually transmitted to the bridge structure of the I-471 bridge. The fire that was on the bridge was pretty complex and did some damage to the structural steel of the bridge," Cincinnati Assistant Fire Chief Matt Flagler said, according to local Fox affiliate WXIX-TV.

WXIX-TV further reported that Matt Bruning, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Transportation, said there is no timeline for when the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge will fully reopen but the southbound side could remain closed for "weeks."

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that he's been in contact with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, as well as with the Ohio and Kentucky departments of transportation.

Buttigieg also advised those in the area to "please follow guidance from local officials."

About Daniel Carter Beard Bridge

The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge was dedicated in 1977. It was named after the founder of the Boy Scouts of America, who was born in Cincinnati. The bridge is 2,100 feet long, approximately 50 feet wide and has eight lanes of traffic.

Many locals call the structure the "Big Mac Bridge" due to its yellow arches' resemblance to McDonald's "Golden Arches" logo.

According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said the last traffic count for the bridge was taken in 2023. At that time, the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) was 102,102.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

Update 11/01/24 11:00 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include more information.

Update 11/01/24 11:38 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include more information.

Update 11/01/24 12:14 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to include more information.