A 3-Alarm Fire At Camp Small In Baltimore Has Led To Road Closures On Coldspring Lane And I-83, Light Rail Service Suspension, And Poly-Western School Closure, With Over 100 Firefighters Working To Contain The Blaze.

By BJLife Newsroom
Posted on 12/05/24

Coldspring Lane between I-83 and the Woodberry Apartments is Closed, Residents and Commuters are Encouraged to Avoid the Area

Baltimore, MD - Dec. 5, 2024  -  Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott issued the following update regarding the fire at Camp Small. 

At approximately 5:10 PM on Thursday, December 5, 2024 a Baltimore Recreation and Parks employee at Camp Small, located at 2101 W Old Cold Spring Lane, observed a small fire on the property. 

The employee immediately called 911 and Baltimore City Fire Department assets quickly arrived on scene. The high wind and presence of a significant amount of wood refuse in a condensed area caused significant growth of the fire in a short amount of time. 

The current priorities are protecting the surrounding area and containing the fire. 

BCFD currently has 12 engine companies on site and over 100 fire fighters. It is currently a 3-alarm fire. Several surrounding jurisdictions have offered mutual aid. The City has brought in significant amounts of heavy machinery from multiple agencies to help address the situation. BCFD is supported and backfilled by Baltimore County Fire assets. State assets are on site, and multiple city agencies including OEM, DOT, DHCD, BCRP, and DPW are on scene. 

There are no reported injuries and evacuations are not expected to be necessary. At this time there is no anticipated timeline for a resolution.

Here is what residents need to know:

• Coldspring Lane between the I-83 on-ramps and The Woodberry apartment building has been shut down to traffic. 
• In addition to Coldspring Lane, Northbound and Southbound I-83 is closed from the Northern Parkway Exit to Druid Park Lake Drive until further notice. 
• The Light Rail has been shut down between North Ave and Falls Rd. MTA is offering shuttle service between the stops. 
• Poly-Western will be closed on Friday December 6, 2024.
• Commuters should anticipate heavy traffic and road closures to continue through the night and into the morning rush hour in the area around the fire.