Explosion, Fire Reported At Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant

DUNDALK, MD — Baltimore County firefighters responded to an explosion and fire at the Back River Waste Water Treatment facility in Dundalk on Wednesday, according to authorities.

The Baltimore County Fire Department said firefighters were called to the facility located in the 8200 block of Eastern Avenue shortly before 11:30 a.m. for a two-alarm commercial building fire and explosion.

Authorities evacuated the building upon arrival, according to the fire department.

All employees were accounted for and no one was injured, firefighters confirmed in a tweet.

Firefighters remained on the scene around 2:30 p.m. According to fire officials, the gas-fed fire caused parts of the building to become unstable.

Officials with the Maryland Department of Environment were also on the scene and confirmed the fire caused no environmental impact or public health threat, authorities said.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said in a tweet that he is "closely monitoring the situation."

"As this is a City-managed site within Baltimore County, we remain in close contact with Mayor (Brandon) Scott and our City partners and will provide additional information regarding this incident as it becomes available," Olszewski tweeted.

The Back River facility was accused of violating the Clean Water Act in a December 2021 complaint filed by the nonprofit Blue Water Baltimore against Baltimore City, whose public works department runs the facility, the Baltimore Banner reported.

State regulators took control of the plant last year after the city failed to comply with a state order requiring the facility to stop regular sewage discharges.