Two accidents shut down parts of U.S. Highway 78 in the past week.
On Monday afternoon, a utility truck carrying oxygen and acetylene tanks was fully engulfed by flames at the intersection of 78 and Crawfordville Road, just east of Lexington.
Salem Fire & Rescue chief Justin Sanders wrote in a text that a tire also rolled off the truck and set the “side of the road on fire prior to the fire department arriving, basically creating two scenes.”
Both 78 and Crawfordville Road were shut down while firefighters extinguished the flames in about 30 minutes, Oglethorpe County 911 director Angela Jackson wrote in a text on Tuesday.
A tire popped, but the tanks didn’t explode, Sanders wrote.
On Friday, Highway 78 was shut down for an accident just west of the Athens-Clarke County line.
MOAS takes donations for wildfire victims
The Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter is accepting items to assist wildfire victims in South Georgia through Monday, May 11.
Dog and cat food is the No. 1 need, but other items include non-perishable food, litter, batteries, toiletries, paper towels, animal bedding, blankets, bottled water and animal crates.
All donations will be taken to rescues around the Brantley County area that have been working to rescue animals from the fire zone, housing displaced animals and working with families who are in need of supplies, MOAS director Julie Huth wrote in an email.
Drop off the items at MOAS (1888 Colbert Danielsville Road, Danielsville) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.
Maxeys Model Mile 5K set for May 16
The eighth annual Maxeys Model Mile, a 5K race, is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16 in Maxeys.
Race-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Race cost is $20 for no shirt and $25 with a shirt.
Awards are given to overall male/female, masters male/female, grandmasters male/female and male/female age groups: 10 and Under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 and over.
Go to runsignup.com/races and search Maxeys for more info and to register.