Lithium battery fire closes multiple interstate interchanges west of Downtown

Multiple interstate exits were closed Thursday morning because of a hazmat situation in the Franklinton area.

Columbus Division of Fire Battalion Chief Jeffery Geitter said Columbus firefighters were called to the 1600 block of Mckinley Avenue at about 6 a.m. Thursday morning after a tractor trailer was seen smoking. Inside were lithium ion batteries, Geitter said.

The incident forced four area interstate exit ramps to be closed. They are:

More on Columbus hazmat fire: One-mile area west of Columbus evacuated after smoking trailer found in Franklinton

• Eastbound I-670 to Grandview Avenue
• Westbound I-670 to Grandview Avenue
• Eastbound I-70 to U.S. 40/Broad Street
• Westbound I-70 to U.S. 40/Broad Street

Traffic appears to be heavy on both interstates west of downtown, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation's OHGO traffic monitor .

The evacuation zone for the situation is:

• East boundary: Central Avenue
• West boundary: North Grandview Avenue
• North boundary: Grandview Avenue
• South boundary: Broad Street

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Lithium battery fire closes multiple interstate interchanges west of Downtown