Grass fires shut down part of I-55

A series of large grass fires off I-55 north of Madison left traffic snarled for four and half hours late Friday afternoon causing two accidents but no injuries.

The Madison Police Department and Madison Fire Department responded to the grass fires on the west side of the interstate between the 107 and 109 mile markers, MPD Lt. Micah Taylor said.

According to Taylor, initial calls came in at about 1:30 p.m. and traffic southbound was shut off and detoured onto Gluckstadt Road.  

At about 4 p.m. one lane of southbound traffic was opened up after the incident was under control, Taylor said.  

“There were no reported injuries,” Taylor said. “We did have two accidents reported on the northbound side due to motorists slowing down to see what was going on.”  

All emergency personnel were cleared from I-55 by 6 p.m., according to Taylor.