Southbound lanes open, northbound still closed day after Clemens Center Bridge fire

Update: The Elmira Fire Department has provided more information about the fire under the Clemens Center Bridge in Elmira on Thursday that sent thick black smoke into downtown and caused potential structural damage to the bridge.

According to Elmira Fire Chief Andrew Mallow, the large fire under the bridge was burning and being fueled by at least three couches, a large volume of garbage, wood, and plastic items.

Much of the area under the bridge was consumed by fire, but officials were able to get it under control within five minutes.

Chief Mallow said that when items like these are burned, thick black smoke, like what was seen on Thursday, would be seen going into the air.

Mallow said that during the fire, visible structural damage may have happened to the supports under the bridge, resulting in the northbound lanes being shut down.

Chief Mallow said the type of thick smoke produced from the fire is toxic and hazardous to breathe and can irritate the lungs. Mallow said no one was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but said anyone experiencing lung irritation or difficulty breathing should seek medical help immediately.

ELMIRA, N.Y. ( WETM ) — A section of the Clemens Center Parkway Bridge in Elmira is in working order again after a fire under the bridge shut it down for several hours on Thursday.

According to the Elmira Police Department, the bridge’s northbound lanes will be closed until further notice as the southbound lanes were opened around 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 11.

Several barriers and other gates were put up around where the fire happened as crews worked to clean out the remaining debris.

It’s unknown at this time how much damage was sustained to the underside of the northbound lanes, but crews will continue to work and assess the damages and work as fast as possible to get the other lanes open.

The bridge was shut down on Thursday around 2:50 p.m. after a fire broke out underneath the bridge at a homeless encampment on the north end that sent thick black smoke into the air as flames burned the underside.

The fire comes as state crews worked several days this week to clean an area under the south end of the bridge, removing items and debris.

The cause of the fire has yet to be announced.

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