A utility pole fire in Bel Air on New Year's Eve prompted a road closure on Pennsylvania Avenue and sparked a series of power outages that affected local businesses and traffic flow. As reported by Fox Baltimore, the fire led to Pennsylvania Avenue being shut down between Hickory Avenue and Main Street. The Bel Air Police Department informed the public of the closure on social media and urged residents to confirm the status of establishments before venturing out.
The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, along with BGE teams, was dispatched to manage the fiery incident. During the contingency, many businesses in downtown Bel Air were forced to cease operations, with ongoing power disruptions further complicating the situation. "Hazards were contained," according to the statements provided by the fire company.
Later, WMAR-2 News reported a swift response from BGE, with power being restored to nearly all customers by the evening. Initially, BGE crews attended a scene where approximately 440 customers were faced with outages. However, all but seven had services restored fairly quickly. An update later confirmed that six of the seven remaining customers, which included only one business due to reopen the next morning, had their power back.
