Strong Winds Fuel Five-Alarm Brush Fire

Smoke from an Odenton fire that started earlier today could be seen for miles and black ash from the fire was 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."