Firefighters responded to a call of smoke coming from a Highway 83 apartment building in Salem Friday evening.
Firefighters believed the cause of the smoke was a malfunctioning washing machine, scanner transmissions suggested.
Traffic on Highway 83 was blocked off just south of Salem Auto on the north and at Highway AH on the south for about an hour.
The building was evacuated.
Some fire units began leaving the scene at about 8:40 p.m., after the likely cause was identified.
Traffic opened back up at about 9:15 p.m.
Departments on the scene included Salem Fire/Rescue and the Bristol Fire Department as well as the Sheriff’s Department.