Two individual house fires shut down a DeKalb County intersection near the Atlanta city limits Wednesday afternoon, causing smoke that could be seen from I-20, authorities said.

They started as independent fires at the abandoned houses, which are next to each other, DeKalb fire Capt. Dion Bentley told AJC.com. The blazes have since been extinguished, but Flat Shoals Road remains blocked at Fayetteville Road.

Crews battled the blaze from outside the home for the safety of firefighters, Bentley said. One house was completely engulfed in flames when they arrived, while the other fire was smaller.

No one was injured in the fires. Investigators have not determined the cause of the two blazes, but arson has not been ruled out, Bentley said.

— Please return to AJC.com for updates.

In other news:

A home invasion in Rockdale County ended with two doors that had been kicked down and a resident exchanging gunfire with two suspects, injuring the victim and one of the alleged thieves, authorities said.

About the Authors

Featured

A native of Columbus and a fine arts graduate of Clark Atlanta, Amy Sherald was chosen as the official portrait artist of former first lady Michelle Obama. On the same week that the portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, it was also announced that Sherald was awarded the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Credit: Andrew Harnik