| Submit your comments on this article | ||
| -Lurid Crime Tales- | ||
| Atlanta bridge fire suspect was smoking crack before blaze began | ||
| 2017-04-03 | ||
| [NYDAILYNEWS] The homeless man accused of starting a fire that caused a section of a major Atlanta interstate to collapse was smoking crack before the blaze erupted, his arrest warrant shows. Basil Eleby, 39, was charged with first degree arson and criminal damage to property in connection to the fire, and is being held in Fulton County jail on a $200,000 bond. Eleby has been arrested 20 times since 2000, mostly on drug possession and drug trafficking charges, according to Fulton County jail records. Thursday’s fire affected a busy stretch of I-85, causing millions of dollars in damage and substantial traffic disruption, possibly for months as the state works to rebuild the heavily-trafficked route.
| ||
| Posted by:Fred |
| #9 It appears the plastics used to coat fibre optic cables are flammable. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2017-04-03 20:06 |
| #8 The PVC duct was rolled on spools (possibly plastic) and stacked up, therefore concentrating any heat produced by the burning duct. Kept it burning longer, too. If anyone is interested, check out 2123 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, Ga. or Google Street View |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2017-04-03 13:53 |
| #7 John Q steel doesn't have to melt. It only has to get hot enough to fail. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2017-04-03 13:09 |
| #6 About 20 years ago, I reconstructed a semi-crash on the interstate. The semi was hauling plastic beads that were used in some process. The semi hit a van, an SUV and another semi killing several people. Diesel fuel was spread over the highway. The diesel fuel ignited and scorched the surface of the divider and roadway but little other damage was done to the highway. The plastic beads did not seem to contribute to the fire. I find it difficult to believe so much damage could be done on I-85 by plastic conduit catching fire underneath the highway. Could be that thermite caused the fire which would put this into terrorism consideration. Concrete doesn't usually burn and steel (assuming steel supports or I-beams were used) melts at a high temperature. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2017-04-03 10:48 |
| #5 There are different definitions of non-combustible. I'll bet the department was using a very lax one, suitable for conduit that was going to be buried. |
| Posted by: James 2017-04-03 09:51 |
| #4 But the government said nothing flammable was stored under the bridge! I guess they lied. "McMurry said his department stored coils of plastic conduit, used in fiber optic networks, beneath the span but insisted they were noncombustible." |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2017-04-03 09:43 |
| #3 smoking crack wasn't the cause of the fire Eleby intentionally set a chair on fire; the chair was near a stockpile of polyethylene pipe which in turn caught fire |
| Posted by: lord garth 2017-04-03 08:48 |
| #2 No reason it could't be both. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2017-04-03 08:09 |
| #1 While it's fun to read, I refuse to believe hobos, winos, homeless and crackhead flotsam are the cause. They are just convenient dupes. Much like delivery trucks and crowds, expect to see casual acts of arson against critical infrastructure increasing in number. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2017-04-03 08:01 |