Smoking Crack Before I-85 Case Study
Suspect discussed smoking crack before I-85 collapse, affidavit shows
Atlanta (CNN)The man accused of arson in a massive fire that collapsed part of Interstate 85 in Atlanta discussed smoking crack with two others before the blaze started, an arrest affidavit shows.
Basil Eleby is charged with first-degree arson and criminal damage to property, authorities said.
Eleby and his two companions, Sophia Bruner and Barry Thomas, are believedto be homeless. They were arrested in connection with Thursday evening's fire, said Jay Florence, the state safety fire commissioner. An affidavit obtained by CNN shows Eleby told investigators that he and his companions talked about smoking crack cocaine under the highway overpass. He however decided to smoke …show more content…
ET Thursday: Atlanta firefighters get first call about the fire
Around 7 p.m.: Part of the interstate collapses
40 feet: Height of the wall of fire
350 feet: Length of the sections of I-85 that need to be replaced in each direction
50%: Traffic increase on the I-285 bypass the day after the collapse
The flammability of HDPE is relatively low, said Tony Radoszewski, president of the Plastics Pipe Institute, a trade group based in Irving, Texas. HDPE would have to be exposed to a high-temperature flame for a considerable amount of time to burn, he said.
"Somebody had to start a fire. It doesn't combust by itself, it needs fuel," Radoszewski told CNN. "Someone had to do it. It's not like someone would have dropped a match and it started."
Investigators are still working to determine how the fire started.
"We're as eager to learn the cause of this fire as anyone," McMurry said.
Eleby is the only person who has been detained, and is being held on $200,000 bond. His next court date is April 14.
Firefighters were alerted at 6:12 p.m. Thursday to the blaze under a section of the interstate in northeast
Atlanta (CNN)The man accused of arson in a massive fire that collapsed part of Interstate 85 in Atlanta discussed smoking crack with two others before the blaze started, an arrest affidavit shows.
Basil Eleby is charged with first-degree arson and criminal damage to property, authorities said.
Eleby and his two companions, Sophia Bruner and Barry Thomas, are believedto be homeless. They were arrested in connection with Thursday evening's fire, said Jay Florence, the state safety fire commissioner. An affidavit obtained by CNN shows Eleby told investigators that he and his companions talked about smoking crack cocaine under the highway overpass. He however decided to smoke …show more content…
ET Thursday: Atlanta firefighters get first call about the fire
Around 7 p.m.: Part of the interstate collapses
40 feet: Height of the wall of fire
350 feet: Length of the sections of I-85 that need to be replaced in each direction
50%: Traffic increase on the I-285 bypass the day after the collapse
The flammability of HDPE is relatively low, said Tony Radoszewski, president of the Plastics Pipe Institute, a trade group based in Irving, Texas. HDPE would have to be exposed to a high-temperature flame for a considerable amount of time to burn, he said.
"Somebody had to start a fire. It doesn't combust by itself, it needs fuel," Radoszewski told CNN. "Someone had to do it. It's not like someone would have dropped a match and it started."
Investigators are still working to determine how the fire started.
"We're as eager to learn the cause of this fire as anyone," McMurry said.
Eleby is the only person who has been detained, and is being held on $200,000 bond. His next court date is April 14.
Firefighters were alerted at 6:12 p.m. Thursday to the blaze under a section of the interstate in northeast