Arizona’s Hart Mine Road Bridge in the southwest has collapsed, and it is believed to be a result of recent wildfires damaging the bridge structure.
The 557-foot-long (about 170 meters) bridge is located in the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge at the Arizona-California border, spanning the Colorado River, and collapsed on Monday (27th). Fortunately, there were no casualties.
The Bureau of Land Management in the United States is currently working with the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Wildfire Team to coordinate emergency response and safety measures.
Personnel are setting up floating barriers and warning signs, as well as taking other preventive measures to prohibit vehicles, pedestrians, and boats from entering the accident area.
The River Safety Team is also identifying and marking dangerous debris in the water to protect boats and other water recreational users.
Chris Wallis, Director of the Resource Management Office of the Bureau of Land Management, urged all pedestrians, vehicles, and boats to temporarily avoid the area: “Due to debris still present in the river and ongoing safety assessments at the site, staying away from the accident site is crucial for everyone’s safety.”
Wallis mentioned that the bridge is owned by the Bureau of Land Management and is primarily used for farm traffic and for protecting area staff to access necessary facilities.
Officials stated that the bridge collapse appears to be linked to the “Island Fire.” The wildfire erupted on the 25th, burning through the wildlife refuge. The area remains closed, and firefighters are still working to extinguish the fire.
As of the afternoon of the 29th, data from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) shows that the containment of the wildfire is at 75%, with a burned area of approximately 3,218 acres. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.