Wind-driven brushfire at Baltimore wood recycling yard closes expressway, light rail, schools

Firefighters are battling a massive, wind-driven wildfire at a wood recycling yard in Baltimore that has closed a section of the highway to the city’s downtown, the adjacent light rail line and nearby roads and schools.

BALTIMORE– Firefighters were battling a massive, wind-driven wildfire at a wood recycling yard in Baltimore on Friday morning that closed a section of the highway to the city’s downtown, the adjacent light rail line and nearby roads and schools.

Crews were called to the Camp Small yard after 5 p.m. Thursday, where large trees and logs are stacked about 30 feet high, Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace said during a briefing.

“When they arrived, they discovered a rapidly developing fire in a large pile of trees and logs over a large area. This stage is just that, lots of trees, logs, stumps and stuff like that,” Wallace said. “This was a challenge because it was a wind-driven fire. It is very, very difficult for us to get out of there.”

About 100 to 125 firefighters were battling the blaze Thursday evening and while the blaze was not under control, Wallace said crews had gained the upper hand. Firefighters planned to move heavy equipment in to try to cut a ring around the fire to contain it once they had more control, he said.

Interstate 83 and the adjacent light rail line were closed in the area and two nearby high schools were closed Friday, Mayor Brandon Scott said at a briefing. Officials did not expect evacuations would be needed in the area.