Brush Fires on CSX Rail Lines Placed Under Control

A series of brush fires that broke out along the CSX railroad lines stopped train travel for several hours Wednesday and will disrupt service on Thursday as well.

Nobody was injured; however, two small storage sheds were damaged, according to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

First responders were initially dispatched at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday for multiple brush fires along the train tracks between the Howard, Baltimore and Anne Arundel county lines, the department reported.

MARC trains on the Camden line were held outside the affected area while firefighters from Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and Prince George's counties went to work.

By 8:30 p.m., authorities said the firefighters had brought the blaze under control.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Wednesday evening, officials said.

Previous Report

Brush fires along the Route 1 corridor are causing travel disruptions during the evening commute in several counties, officials report.

Firefighters were battling multiple brush fires stretching across Howard, Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties after 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

The fires were starting to deescalate, Howard fire officials reported just before 7 p.m.

Personnel from Baltimore, Carroll and Anne Arundel counties were participating in the firefight, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services reported.

Multiple roads were closed between Elkridge and Laurel so crews could work, Howard County police reported, advising drivers to avoid these areas:

• MD 198 at US 1
• Route 1 at Prince George's County line
• Route 1 at Anne Arundel County line near Laurel Race Track
• Dorsey MARC station
• Loudon Avenue in Elkridge; closed in both directions

A brush fire near Dorsey Station has been holding up train travel on the MARC Camden line since approximately 5:30 p.m.

"Due to numerous brush fires near Dorsey Station, all traffic continues to hold in place out of the affected area until the fire department has completed their response. At this time the length of delay remains unknown. Updates will continue," the Maryland Transit Administration reported at approximately 6:40 p.m.

Pictured, one of several brush fires crews were responding to on March 23, 2016. Photo Credit: Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.