A wildfire has destroyed a rural bridge in western Arizona that crosses the Colorado River.
The Hart Mine Road Bridge, located near the Arizona-California border, collapsed into the river after it was believed to have suffered structural damage from the nearby Island Fire, according to federal officials.
No injuries were reported, but portions of the bridge are in the water.
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation owns the bridge and is spearheading the incident response alongside several other federal agencies — including Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Wildland Fire Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Vernon Cunningham, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Reclamation, said crews have installed barriers, signs and buoys to restrict access to the bridge.
“They're looking at installing some navigation lights on the river so that nobody runs into the actual bridge on the water,” Cunningham said.
The small bridge was the only access point for some farms and the Cibola Wildlife refuge to the rest of the state.
“We are asking all pedestrians, motorists and boaters to avoid the area at this time. With debris in the water and ongoing assessments underway, staying clear of the site is essential for everyone’s safety,” said Resource Management Office Chief Chris Wallis.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated to correct the spelling of Hart Mine Road Bridge.
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