GULF SHORES — Multiple local and state agencies fought a brush fire in Gulf State Park on Tuesday, March 24, that caused evacuations at businesses east of Hwy. 59 from Fort Morgan to Waterville USA.

The blaze ignited around 2 p.m. when a downed line caused an electrical malfunction near the water park's parking lot, Gulf Shores Police Chief Dan Netemeyer told GCM on Tuesday.

It "was burning pretty good for a while" and branched off into two directions as it "horseshoed" within the within the state park, he said.

"Luckily the fire department addressed it pretty quickly," he said Tuesday. "We've got ALEA's helicopter out here right now dumping water on the fire. They're just attacking it from all angles."

Businesses south of East Fort Morgan Road and east of Hwy. 59 were evacuated. According to Chief Melvin Shepard with Gulf Shores Fire and Rescue, there were crews near the old zoo property and the trail that runs adjacent to Fort Morgan Road.

There were no reports of structural damage or injuries, and the blaze was under control by around 7:30 p.m.

State Park Road was closed during the response, while traffic lights in the areas of East 2nd Street and 20th Avenue were functioning intermittently, and opened around 6:30 p.m. along with Hwy. 59 and East Fort Morgan Road.

"If you need to leave the island, you will have to go through Orange Beach," the police department said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Witnesses reported spending an hour in traffic while being routed through Orange Beach.

"No. 1 reason why we need another way to get off of this island," Allison Langus commented on one of GCM's Facebook posts as the story was developing Tuesday.

The Alabama Department of Transportation is nearing the completion of a new bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway in Gulf Shores near Orange Beach, which a spokesperson has said is on track to open before Memorial Day. The $52 million project aims to reduce congestion, improve access for emergency responders, enhance hurricane evacuation capacity and support continued economic growth in Coastal Alabama, according to ALDOT's page on the project as previously reported by GCM.

Once the new bridge opens, its two lanes will be open to southbound traffic only, while the Foley Beach Express bridge in Orange Beach at The Wharf will transition to two northbound-only lanes.

Emergency responders from across the county assisted in the effort, including crews from Summerdale and Loxley to Perdido Key, Florida.

"Anyone who can come has come," Netemeyer said.