As of 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, a brush fire is under control at Gulf State Park after an electrical malfunction near the Waterville parking lot ignited the fire around 2 p.m.

Gulf Shores Police Chief Dan Netemeyer said a downed powerline caused the fire. It “was burning pretty good for a while” and branched off into two directions as it “horseshoed” within the Gulf State Park.

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

State Park Road, is currently closed to the public. The City of Gulf Shores posted on their Facebook page at 6:30 p.m. that Highway 59 and East Fort Morgan Road are now open.

“Businesses located south of East Fort Morgan Road and east of Highway 59 have been evacuated as a precaution,” the post reads.

Gulf Shores Police Department issued a statement saying, “State Park Rd (State Highway 135) at Gulf State Park is currently CLOSED due to a brush fire. Traffic lights in the areas of East 2nd & 20th Ave are functioning intermittently. Avoid the area if at all possible. Use caution if you are in the area. … If you need to leave the island, you will have to go through Orange Beach.”

According to Chief Melvin Shepard with Gulf Shores Fire and Rescue, there are currently crews near the old zoo property and the trail that runs adjacent to Fort Morgan Road.

Gulf Shores Fire and Rescue and other emergency responders from across the county are on the Highway 59 scene, Netemeyer said, as “anyone who can come has come.” Resources from Perdido Key, Florida, were also spotted on the scene.

Around 6 p.m., Netemeyer said, “they’re managing a couple hotspots. We did some building evacuations just out of precaution but so far no structures have been involved.”

No injuries have been reported at this time.

“We just ask everybody to stay out of the area and let the emergency responders do their job,” he said. “We’d prefer nobody become part of the problem.

This is a developing story, check back for more information soon.