SHIAWASSEE COUNTY (WWJ) - Authorities are investigating the cause of a raging fire that engulfed a wooden historic bridge in Mid Michigan and ultimately led to its collapse over the weekend
In a social media post on Saturday, the Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office asked for the community's help for information about a fire that destroyed the Newberry Road Bridge, roughly four miles southwest of Durand.
Crews worked hard to extinguish the flames, but they couldn't save the mostly wooden structure from being consumed.
Sheriff Brian BeGole told MLive that the fire “completely ruined” the bridge and caused it to come down in pieces on the train tracks below.
The bridge is a well-traveled route in the area, allowing drivers on Newberry Road to cross over a Canadian National Railway line in Vernon Township. The railway was made aware of its collapse and was working to remove debris from the tracks on Saturday.
The fire has caused back-ups in railway traffic all the way to Chicago, BeGole added.
No injuries were reported in the incident, but authorities urged travelers and area residents to avoid the area as they look into what started the fire.
Anyone with information that may assist authorities with their investigation is encouraged to call the sheriff’s office tip line at 989-720-TIPS.