Strong Winds Fuel Five Alarm Brush Fire

Black ash from an Odenton fire that started earlier today is falling in Crofton.

Several hundred acres and numerous structures in Odenton are in danger after small brush fires caused a five-alarm situation.

Throughout the state, small fires have escalated into more serious incidents due to strong winds and low relative humidity, said Anne Arundel Fire Dept. spokesman James Rostek.

"The fire is huge, and it's not under control," Rostek said.

After yesterday's highway-closing incident off of Route 100, firefighters are continually battling the flames in Odenton near Conway Road. Twenty-five fire units are on the scene, Rostek said.

Crofton Woods resident Stacie Glaze said her neighborhood was filled with smoke and black ash that fell from the sky on Saturday afternoon.

"It was really startling," she said and added that the dense smoke resembled thick fog. About an hour later, the smoke began to fade, she said.

"Right now, most of the smoke has cleared out," she said at roughly 3 p.m. "There's still a little bit of ash falling now." 

Strong winds also created power outages around the region. Baltimore Gas and Electric reported that it restored power to more than 29,000 homes in its service area.

In Anne Arundel County, more than 4,000 customers remained without power, including several hundred in the Odenton and Crofton area.