NORTHPORT, Ala. (AP) — Alabama firefighters say they have contained a grass fire that sparked alongside a highway north of Tuscaloosa, forcing authorities to reroute traffic.

The Tuscaloosa News reports (http://bit.ly/NPGayu ) the fire broke out Friday afternoon along U.S. 43 in the Northport area, spreading along roughly 1,000 feet near the highway and threatening to move into nearby woods.

Firefighters from Northport, Tuscaloosa, the Alabama Forestry Service and two nearby volunteer fire departments responded and contained the blaze within about two hours. Authorities warned that hotspots continued to smolder hours later and forestry officials were monitoring to ensure the fire doesn't rekindle.

Authorities say there's no evidence the fire was intentionally set and it may have been ignited by sparks from a chain.

___

Information from: The Tuscaloosa News, http://www.tuscaloosanews.com