SEATTLE --
Washington State Patrol troopers are blaming a lit cigarette for a brush fire in the median of Interstate 5 that backed up traffic for miles in the Seattle area.
Firefighters and troopers responded to the fire at about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday just north of South 200th Street, between Seattle and Tacoma near Federal Way.
Two northbound lanes and all southbound lanes were closed for an extended period. Northbound traffic was backed up for 8 miles, and southbound traffic was backed up for 4 1/2 miles.
Trooper Dan McDonald said most lanes had been reopened by late Wednesday afternoon.
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