COLUMBUS – National Road was shut down in Columbus for almost an hour Thursday near Lowell Road while crews fought a grass fire in the median.
Columbus Fire Department firefighters were called at 1:20 p.m. to the intersection on US 31. Firefighters discovered that the fire was burning in the median between the northbound and southbound lanes. The windy and dry conditions allowed the fire to grow quickly to about six acres. The fire created a large amount of smoke causing firefighters to request police to shut down the road.
The fire had jumped over the northbound lanes, threatening a garage on North County Road 150 West. The property owner was attempting to stop the fire with a garden house.
Columbus and German Township firefighters arrived to assist with their off-road firefighting brush trucks.
It took firefighters about 20 minutes to control the blaze. They remained on the scene for an additional 25 minutes, battling hot spots.
The road was re-opened at 2:20 p.m.
Firefighters believe the fire was started after a motorist discarded smoking materials.
