Three-Alarm Brush Fire Lines Side of Route 100

What began as a series of small brush fires along Route 100 West became a three-plus alarm situation this afternoon, slowing traffic along the major thoroughfare.

Firefighters extinguished the flames stretching over a mile long at about 4:17 p.m., Anne Arundel County Fire Department spokesman Capt. James Rostek said.

"It started as several small fires that progressed into one large one due to the wind and low relative humidity," Rostek said. 

Firefighters are investigating the cause of the fire, but an outdoor storage unit containing tar paper contributed to its aggression, he said.

Initially, firefighters responded to several reports of small brush fires along the Route 100 and its intersection with I-97. As a result, the major highway was almost completely shut down with drivers getting out of their cars to witness the incident.

Andrew Turner was working in his office on McCormick Road when he saw the flames rise up outside.

“I was in my office and I saw some shimmering light and it’s usually the cars that drive by, and when I looked outside I saw flames,” Turner said. “I ran out to see that all of the side of Route 100 was basically on fire, and I ran back in and dialed 911.”

About an hour after the initial report, firefighters had requested a brush box, a device used to contain a rapidly spreading fire, Rostek said.  

Firefighters from BWI Airport, Fort Meade, Howard County and Baltimore County, along with Anne Arundel Police assisted in putting out the fire.