Crews battle brush fire on I-520 in North Augusta

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – Crews on Friday afternoon rushed to the scene of a large brush fire off Interstate 520.

Officials said the fire was reported around 1 p.m. and moving quickly because of the wind.

By 2:30 p.m., it covered 12 acres.

North Augusta crews were assisted by Belvedere, Midland Valley, Beech Island, Sage Mill and Merriwether firefighters.

Eastbound I-520 was shut down at Belvedere Clearwater Road after the fire broke out around 1 p.m.

One lane reopened around 2:30 p.m.

Five bulldozers were sent to the scene as well as two planes.

Starting around 2:55 p.m., the planes began repeatedly dumping water on the fire.

PHOTO GALLERY: NORTH AUGUSTA BRUSH FIRE

The fire was 70% contained at that time, and the situation only got better as the afternoon went on.

However, officials said it’s expected to burn for several days.

And that means the air will have smoke in it.

“You know, if you’ve got some kind of allergies that you don’t want to be breathing it, I would suggest you stay inside, keep your windows up at your house and just do anything you can to keep from getting involved with it,” said Lt. Allen C. Swann with the North Augusta Department of Public Safety.

He said the situation could have been much worse.

“You know, we train for all kinds of fires, so we got here quick,” he said.

“We’ve got a great outcome. No structures burned.”

It was a challenge because the fire was on a ridge.

“You know, safety-wise with firetrucks and firefighters on the interstate with cars coming by, that’s why we shut the interstate down pretty quick,” he said.

“We don’t want one of us getting hit and then have to worry about that on top of dealing with the fire.”

Nearby Highland Springs Middle School and Belvedere Elementary dismissed students early from school.

Parents who drive their kids to school were asked to come get their children. Buses were taking the other kids home.

All after-school activities were canceled.