John Matthews

MARC rail service on the Camden line was extremely limited Thursday morning because firefighters were continuing to put out hot spots from a series of brush fires along the CSX tracks that stretch from Anne Arundel County through PG County.

A train carrying burning materials was responsible for starting the fires, and firefighters struggled to reach remote areas along the tracks – in some cases having to cut fences and stretch hoses long ways to put out the fires. Hot spots continued to develop overnight.

Howard County Fire Battalion Chief Stephen Hardesty tells WMAL the fires really stretched the county’s resources thin. Hardesty adds that without any rain to mitigate the , the problems will continue to plague the area.

A Red Flag brushfire warning is in effect from the National Weather Service through 8 PM this evening. Strong winds and low humidity make the conditions especially ripe for fires right now.