12:30pm UPDATE:  Seattle Fire investigators say the fire was sparked by a transient who was cooking.  Damage is estimated at $100,000. 

Firefighters were called out just before 11:30p.m. after a report of smoke coming from underneath the bridge. When crews arrived on scene, they found a fire underneath the bridge in a storage yard. Four small boats, a truck and wooden pallets were destroyed before the fire was extinguished about 20 minutes later. Because of the location of the fire, the bridge sustained soot and fire damage. According to Seattle Fire, Seattle Department of Transportation inspectors have inspected the integrity of the structure.

The Ballard Bridge is now open after it was closed as a major fire burned underneath the south end of the structure late Wednesday night.

The bridge was closed for two hours as crews inspected it for damage from the fire.  Our sister site, MyBallard.com was on the story all night.  Coverage here.