Massive Brush Fire Threatens Homes In College Park
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A brush fire burned through several acres in College Park on Friday, getting dangerously close to nearby homes.
Chopper footage from the scene in Prince George's County showed crews battling the fire.
Officials say the fire started late Friday afternoon in the 2800 block of Metzerott Road, near a Pepco substation.
Heavy and thick smoke blanketed several neighborhoods and the university, which prompted some road closures
"Black smoke, black smoke all over," homeowner Francisco Quintanilla said.
Quintanilla and his wife looked on in horror as the flames moved closer to their home from the acres of woods nearby.
"Yeah, very worried about that because big fire over there," Quintanilla said.
Despite the proximity, some homeowners chose not to evacuate, and many told WJZ's George Solis they are reassured by how close firefighters were.
"I got the hose all hooked and I'm ready to squirt whatever came my way," one man said.
A firefighter on scene told WJZ winds added another layer of difficulty in containing the fire, but it was mostly under control Friday night.
Sry and warm conditions combined with low humidity and no rain are a perfect recipe for brush fires to grow.
It has not yet been determined what specifically casued the fire.
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