The Baltimore City Fire Department carried out a noteworthy response in its tactics to contain, manage, and resolve the tunnel fire incident. As the events of the afternoon of July 18, 2001, unfolded and time elapsed, it was evident that the incident would require an extended effort. At the beginning of the incident, the amount of time and resources were unknown. Eventually, more than 100 hours spanning four days would be spent bringing this incident under control. At the height of the incident, over 150 firefighters from both the City of Baltimore and Baltimore County were on the scene.
City, state, and federal government agencies deployed resources to the command post as follows:
- Baltimore City Fire Department
- Baltimore City Police Department
- Baltimore City Emergency Management
- City of Baltimore Department of PublicWorks
- CSX Transportation
- Baltimore County Fire Department
- Representatives from the South Baltimore Industrial Mutual Aid Plan were at the scene with personnel that include chemists and other hazardous materials specialists
- Maryland Department of the Environment
- National Transportation Safety Board
- United States Coast Guard
The success of this incident is directly related to the interagency cooperation and coordination of agencies and resources. The responding agencies played a part in providing the logistics, equipment, supplies, and expertise that controlled and limited the damage to the property, environment, health, and welfare of the citizens of Baltimore.
The United States Coast Guard deployed a series of floating booms to protect the Inner Harbor against contamination and potential hazardous runoff from the derailment site. It was feared that some of the drainage from the tunnel would find its way into the Inner Harbor.
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