Market Street Bridge Closed After Fire

Photo by Derek Redd

Market Street Bridge will be closed until further notice after a homeless encampment underneath the bridge caught fire.

Wheeling Fire Department spokesman Philip Stahl said Wednesday that firefighters were called to the bridge around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday after a homeless encampment that was situated right underneath the beams of the bridge caught fire. The fire, Stahl said, started among items at the encampment and occurred on the side of the bridge closest to West Virginia Northern Community College.

Because of the materials that make up the bridge and the heat that radiated from the fire, the bridge was closed Monday until the West Virginia Division of Highways can perform an inspection and figure out the next steps. Stahl said no one was injured in the fire and authorities are still looking for suspects.

Motorists are advised to use the Main Street or Chapline Street bridges for a detour until the Market Street Bridge reopens.