Downed Power Line Sparked Annapolis Repair Shop Fire: Officials

ANNAPOLIS, MD — BGE confirmed that it was not a transformer that sparked a significant fire at a used car repair shop in Annapolis Monday as one witness reported to officials. The fire broke out at the Annapolis Car Center on the 2000 block West Street near Gibralter Avenue at approximately 6:30 a.m. School was canceled at nearby Monarch Academy Annapolis and many neighbors voluntarily evacuated. Traffic was rerouted from the area, too.

“BGE’s preliminary investigation indicates that a power line became displaced on West Street in Annapolis. This interrupted electric service to approximately 1,600 customers and resulted in damage to the pole carrying the power line and property of the adjacent business,” the company said in a statement.

Power was restored to the area around noon, the company shared. BGE intends to replace all of its equipment in the area, the company stated. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.