An underground fire that erupted in downtown Baltimore yesterday afternoon is currently under investigation. The Baltimore City Fire Department was dispatched to the intersection of East Baltimore Street and Guilford Avenue just before 3 p.m. following reports of a fire, as FOX Baltimore detailed. Deputy Chief Khalilah Yancey reported that the fire was emanating from four different manholes, and units were working to extinguish the blaze swiftly.
Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) was called in to secure power and shut down utilities in the affected area. Additionally, the Department of Transportation was involved in securing the streets surrounding the blaze. Despite the imposing flames, officials reported that there were no injuries, and the fire department continued to work diligently on the situation.
In an interview with CBS News Baltimore, Deputy Fire Chief Yancey said, "Right now, we don't have a timeframe on when this investigation will conclude, but we will have our units diligently working to find the cause of the fire." The investigation follows previous incidents of underground fires in Baltimore, including one on North Charles Street last year that caused significant damage and multiple power outages.
The Baltimore City Fire Department's response to the fire included the pre-planned shutdown of the subway for testing purposes, which was not related to the underground fire. As the investigation continues, the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined.
