A Baltimore recycling plant had 4 fires in the past 5 years. Here's how the latest fire impacted the community.

BALTIMORE -- Camp Small, a wood recycling plant in Baltimore that was the scene of a massive fire Thursday had three previous fires in the past five years, according to data reviewed by CBS News.  

The most recent fire started on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 5 in a storage area that was stacked with trees and logs. The fire burned overnight and prompted the shutdown of I-83 and the closure of three nearby schools.  

Camp Small is a zero-waste recycling facility in Baltimore's Woodberry neighborhood that is run by the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks.  

According to their website, city crews and contractors bring logs, chips and brush to the five-acre facility every day for processing. Residents can also visit the facility to buy firewood, mulch, lumber and furniture.  

Thursday's fire spread quickly due to strong winds that continued overnight into the morning. The fire was first reported around 5:10 p.m. Thursday night, and on Friday afternoon, officials said the fire was contained but could continue to smolder for several days.  

Previous Fires 

In the past five years, there have been at least three other fires at Camp Small, all of which were listed as "high priority," according to 911 call history. 

The previous fires took place on Dec. 1, 2018, Sept. 3, 2023, and Oct. 8, 2023. The 2023 fires along with the recent one on Dec. 5, 2024, all occurred while drought conditions were present in the area, according to data reviewed by CBS News.  

In September and October 2023, there were moderate drought conditions, while this year severe drought conditions were reported. 

The Northeastern U.S. region has been experiencing ongoing drought conditions since mid-October. In early November, around 53% of Maryland was under a severe drought and 4% was under an extreme drought.  

Drought conditions can sometimes lead to Red Flag Warnings, which signal an elevated risk of fire. A Red Flag Warning was in effect for Maryland on November 8, though it only lasted the day, and the warning has not since been reactivated.  

Air Quality Impact

According to NASA satellite data, the Camp Small fire was the most intense in the U.S. on Thursday, so it's not surprising that the blaze impacted air quality in the area.  

According to CBS News, recent research shows fires of that intensity are comparable to an actively burning wildfire due to the amount of combustible materials fueling the flames.  

According to the Baltimore City 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan, Camp Small received 8,500 tons of material in 2021 and about 2,100 tons was repurposed for wood chips and another 1,300 tons was repurposed for logs.  

Camp Small is the only waste processing facility operated by the City of Baltimore, according to the plan.  

Investigating the Cause

WJZ spoke to Bill Koffel, who is a fire protection expert with the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. 

As a volunteer firefighter, he battled a blaze at a similar wood facility in Baltimore County more than 30 years ago. 

"I would look at the various fires that occurred and what lessons can be learned. Was access a problem to the site? Was access within the site a problem? Was water supply a problem? Is there a common thread in terms in how these fires have started?" Koffel asked. "Are these fires being caused by unauthorized access to the site? Are they being caused by equipment on the site, or is there some other cause?"

He said determining the cause will take time. 

"In a site like this, it would be an extensive process to be able to go through the debris and be able to identify where the fire started," Koffel said. "In a perfect world, you have somebody at the scene when the fire starts, and they can really tell us how to focus and where to focus on that origin. Security camera is another option. To look at the video, that should tell us where the fire was early on and how it potentially spread to other parts of the yard."

The mayor said a city employee first noticed the fire and called 911.

"When we do a fire investigation, we aren't always able to come up with the actual cause of the fire but we might be able to eliminate certain sources of the fire—be it electrical, be it machinery," Koffel said.

Massive Flames

Dionna Jones' mother shared a video she captured from the JFX—dramatic flames lighting up the night sky—as she headed to her home just around the corner from Camp Small. 

"It looked like the California fires. It was really huge. It was crazy," Jones said. 

She has always passed by the massive wood recycling facility and never thought it could go up in flames. 

"[There's only one] road in and out, and it's terrifying because it looks like it just goes down and it's a pocket of wood basically," she said. "I thought I hope it's not camp small. Knowing that it is. It is heartbreaking."

Close-up pictures show firefighters up against the massive 30-foot-high piles of logs.

Resource for Artisans 

WJZ got a firsthand look at Camp Small in 2022 and the trees stacked throughout the facility. We saw how they are milled before being sold. 

Many artisans and small business owners see it as a critical resource.

Mariyah Palmer is the manager at B Willow in Remington and has been to Camp Small several times. Her heart broke when she heard what happened.

"We were in complete shock of course. We love Camp Small. It was just very unfortunate to hear," Palmer said.

B. Willow makes it a priority to source wood for their floral creations locally. 

Palmer showed WJZ some of what they built from Camp Small including planters.

"It's magical for sure—seeing not only all the varieties of wood they have there but seeing how it's repurposed in many ways throughout the city," Palmer said. "I have no doubt, knowing them, they will come back even stronger."