A two-alarm commercial fire shut down both directions of Pulaski Highway at Chesaco Avenue in Rosedale on Tuesday afternoon, sending a thick column of dark smoke over nearby neighborhoods and turning the evening commute into a crawl. Firefighters arrived to find multiple trailers packed with tires burning, and crews worked to knock back the flames while traffic stacked up for miles. Authorities reported no injuries as of 3:15 p.m., and the scene remained active well into the evening.
Scene and response
According to WMAR-2 News, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Coordinated Highways Action Response Team confirmed that responders were on scene and classified the incident as a two-alarm commercial fire. WMAR reported that when firefighters arrived, they found several trailers loaded with tires fully engulfed and that the blaze forced a closure of Pulaski Highway in both directions at Chesaco Avenue.
Why the closure matters
Pulaski Highway is the local name for the U.S. Route 40 corridor, a workhorse route that carries heavy commuter and commercial traffic northeast out of Baltimore. A full shutdown at Chesaco Avenue can quickly spill backups onto nearby interchanges and major arterials. Per Wikipedia, that stretch functions as a major divided highway linking Baltimore with surrounding suburban communities to the northeast.
Smoke, tires and health concerns
Tire fires are notoriously stubborn, and once they get going they produce dense, toxic smoke that is a real concern for residents and first responders alike. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that burning tires release hazardous compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, and that runoff from burned tires can contaminate soil and water. Those are the kinds of hazards agencies often keep an eye on after large tire pile fires.
Traffic and next steps
WMAR-2 News reported that all lanes were closed and that officials expected the fire to cause significant traffic disruptions, urging drivers to seek alternate routes until crews could secure the area. No cause had been released as of the WMAR update, and officials said they would share more details as the response moves forward.
Anyone traveling through northeastern Baltimore County this evening should build in extra time or steer clear of the Pulaski Highway corridor near Chesaco Avenue. Local traffic services and emergency agencies are expected to post updates as firefighters work to fully extinguish the blaze and reopen the highway.
