LOCAL
Lithium battery fire closes multiple interstate interchanges west of Downtown
Columbus Dispatch
Multiple interstate exits were closed Thursday morning because of a hazmat situation in the Franklinton area.
Columbus Division of Fire Battalion Chief Jeffery Geitter said Columbus firefighters were called to the 1600 block of Mckinley Avenue at about 6 a.m. Thursday morning after a tractor trailer was seen smoking. Inside were lithium ion batteries, Geitter said.
The incident forced four area interstate exit ramps to be closed. They are:
More on Columbus hazmat fire:One-mile area west of Columbus evacuated after smoking trailer found in Franklinton
- Eastbound I-670 to Grandview Avenue
- Westbound I-670 to Grandview Avenue
- Eastbound I-70 to U.S. 40/Broad Street
- Westbound I-70 to U.S. 40/Broad Street
Traffic appears to be heavy on both interstates west of downtown, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation's OHGO traffic monitor.
The evacuation zone for the situation is:
- East boundary: Central Avenue
- West boundary: North Grandview Avenue
- North boundary: Grandview Avenue
- South boundary: Broad Street