Two-alarm blaze erupts at Canton processing plant leaving employee seriously injured

BALTIMORE -- An employee was seriously injured after a heavy fire erupted Saturday afternoon at an asphalt processing plant near Baltimore's Canton Industrial Area.

Baltimore City firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the 1500 block of Ponca Street shortly before 4:30 p.m. to put out the reported building fire. 

Upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke and a visible fire outside of GAF Roofing, a North American roofing and waterproof material manufacturer for commercial and residential use.

The blaze quickly spread to a two-alarm fire including hazmat. One employee was seriously injured and was transported to an area hospital with severe burns and smoke inhalation. He is expected to survive, according to GAF Roofing. 

All other employees evacuated safely before fire personnel arrived.

"We are grateful to the Baltimore Fire Department and other first responders for quickly containing the fire, and to our GAF Baltimore operations team for ensuring that everyone was swiftly evacuated according to our protocols," GAF Roofing said in a statement. "We are aware of one contractor who is being treated for injuries that appear to be non-life threatening."

"All GAF employees on the scene were reported safe," a GAF spokesperson continued. "We maintain the highest standards of safety and will work with the relevant authorities to do a thorough assessment of the incident."

No Significant Damage

There was no significant damage to the building per the Baltimore City Fire Department (BFD), which was limited to the exterior of the building.

A spokesperson from GAF commented on the incident stating, "We are aware of one contractor who is being treated for injuries that appear to be non-life threatening. All GAF employees on the scene were reported safe. We maintain the highest standards of safety and will work with the relevant authorities to do a thorough assessment of the incident."

A BFD PIO told WJZ Reporter Tara Lynch that asphalt leaking from a container onto a hot pipe outside of the building was the cause of the fire. However, an investigation is still underway. 

"We were told that the product leaked from a container onto the pipes, heated up, and then caused a fire. That fire spread throughout the asphalt. It was an alleged faulty pipe," John Marsh, public information officer for Baltimore City Fire, said.

BGE is also responding to the incident due to the natural gas piping at the manufacturer. 

The plant remained closed for the rest of Saturday.