I-40 in Roane County blocked as crews work to contain brush fires

ROANE COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — Multiple brush fires along I-40 are causing huge traffic backups in the eastbound lanes. I-40 East at mile marker 342 has been shut down due to the spread of the fire.

Multiple fire departments from Roane and Cumberland counties and the Tennessee Division of Forestry are on the scene of the fires in the median of I-40 between mile markers 343 and 346. At 6:30 p.m., the Roane County Office of Emergency Services & Homeland Security shared the following update:

“Personnel are opening lanes of trafffic back up. Please continue to use caution throughout the remainder of the evening in this area as personnel continue to work. Additional Forestry personnel are in route to assist in additonal containment.”

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Drivers in the area are urged to use caution as units work and move in and out of traffic for water supply.

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