(UPDATED 2/19, 11 p.m.) Brush Fires Break Out Around Howard County; Blazes in Laurel in Prince George's

“There’s fires all over the place.”

That’s how Howard County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Eric Proctor put it.

In fact, firefighters were so busy today that Proctor had to put aside his duties as public information officer to head out to the scene of a fire as a command officer.

As of 4 p.m., about 35 fire fighters remained on the scene at a fire that started at about 11 a.m. on the 3800 block of Manor Lane in Ellicott City, Proctor said.

According to a statement released by Jackie Cutler at Howard County Fire and Rescue, the fire spread to more than 20 acres of land, spreading to nearby woods. Crews from the Department of Natural Resources also responded.

And a fire broke out on the 14700 block Triadelphia Mill Road in Dayton just after noon.  Both fires were under control by about 5:30 p.m.

In all, Proctor said that between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., the department received 661 emergency calls resulting in 275 incidents -- "That’s everything," he said, "Fire, EMS, downed wires, everything."

At about 5:30 p.m., firefighters had responded to eight brush fires and two house fires in Howard County, according to Cutler.

And in Laurel, a brush fire led authorities to shut down Interstate 95 at Route 198.

The National Weather Service on Friday issued a “red flag warning,” indicating a combination of conditions that make “explosive fire growth potential”: low humidity, high winds and warm temperature.

As of Saturday night, the warning is no longer in effect, but NWS cautions on its website, "Even though relative humidities will continue to recover wome overnight ... these winds and dry fuels will continue to provide an enhanced fire threat tonight." 

Winds from the northwest are a steady 15 to 20 mph, gusting up to 45 mph at times. By Sunday, winds will drop to 1o to 15 mph with gusts of 30 mph, according to NWS

“BGE is proactively preparing for the likelihood of wind-related power outages by opening its storm center and notifying employees that they may be needed for storm restoration activity,” A. Christopher Burton, BGE senior vice president of gas and electric operations and planning, said in a statement.  

The power company also said it was pre-mobilizing its storm center and has personnel on stand-by.

Wind-whipped Laurel Fires Send Black Smoke Across Region

A fire whipped by strong winds burned out of control at a mulch plant in Laurel Saturday afternoon, and some 10 fire trucks responded to a second fire at a shopping mall, Prince George’s County officials said. Traffic in the area was snarled for miles.

Smoke could be seen from I-95 and Route 1 as firefighters battled the blaze at the mulch factory on Van Dusen Road. The flames were spread by strong winds across the region.

“Van Dusen is still burning out of control,” said Mark Brady, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS spokesperson.

The other fire, reported to be at the Burlington Coat Factory in the 14700 block of Baltimore Avenue, was said to be under control.

“It looks it was shooting through the trash can,” said James Spears of Laurel. “The smoke covered the whole shopping area.” Spears said he saw at least 10 fire trucks at the scene.

At the scene of the second fire, Laurel police blocked off Van Dusen between Cherry Lane and Contee Road. Parts of I-95 were reportedly shut down and traffic was snarled for miles in several directions. Multiple fire trucks were seen approaching Van Dusen, from Prince George’s and Howard counties.

No injuries were reported at either fire.