Underground Fire Shuts Down Baltimore Streets, Power Still Out
Underground Fire Disrupts Downtown Baltimore, Power Outages and Street Closures Linger
Nearly a full day after an underground fire erupted in downtown Baltimore, some traffic and street lights north of the Inner Harbor remained out Sunday afternoon, affecting safety and traffic flow in the area.
The incident began around 3 p.m. Saturday near 300 East Baltimore Street, when thick black smoke was seen billowing from manholes. Crews from the Baltimore City Fire Department and Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) quickly responded. While the smoke dissipated soon after, the fire caused significant damage to underground infrastructure.
No injuries were reported, but the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to a BGE spokesperson. “Crews worked throughout the night due to widespread damage to the system,” BGE’s Stephanie Weaver said Sunday.
As of Sunday evening, two downtown streets were still closed due to ongoing repairs: Baltimore Street between Calvert and Holliday Streets, and Guilford Avenue between Fayette and Redwood Streets. The Baltimore City Department of Transportation is urging motorists to take alternate routes.
Tiesha James, general manager of The Empanada Lady restaurant, said the incident disrupted service during a busy Saturday rush. “I look up the block, and there’s black smoke everywhere,” she told WJZ. The restaurant briefly lost Wi-Fi and TV service, but continued operating, keeping customers away from windows as a precaution.
This latest fire follows a series of roughly 10 similar underground incidents that occurred in downtown Baltimore last fall. At that time, officials struggled to determine the root causes. Fire Chief James Wallace noted the difficulty of investigating underground fires, which often involve multiple utility providers and complex legal and training hurdles.
Mayor Brandon Scott previously formed an “underground services work group” with representatives from BGE, Comcast, and Verizon to address recurring issues in the city’s aging underground infrastructure.
Underground Fire Disrupts Downtown Baltimore, Power Outages and Street Closures Linger was originally published on wolbbaltimore.com
