Crews from the Baltimore City Fire Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment worked most of Wednesday morning responding to a 2,000-gallon fuel spill from a train in South Baltimore.
Fire officials said the train's fuel tank ruptured about 9:30 a.m. on the tracks along Fort Armistead Road. The spill is confined to the track area and no injuries have occurred, though it has disrupted rail traffic in the area. Officials have yet to determine what caused the rupture.
MDE responded to the spill but no immediate cleanup was undertaken because the fuel only spilled into the gravel that makes up the railroad bed, according to Jay Apperson, a spokesman for the department. The railroad is responsible for removing the contaminated gravel, said Apperson, though MDE will oversee the process.
Fire crews were also dealing with a heating oil leak from an underground fuel tank in the 600 block of N. Caroline St. in East Baltimore. The incident, which was reported at 12:30 p.m., led to the evacuation of 50 workers at the city Health Department's eastern health center. One person was overcome by fumes and treated on the scene. No hospitalization was required, fire officials said.
Health department spokesman Brian Schleter said the center would remain closed Thursday, canceling all clinics normally held there. Appointments will be rescheduled, he said. Clients are urged to check the department's website http://www.baltimorehealth.org or call 410-396-4398 for the latest updates.
Baltimore Sun reporter Steve Kilar contributed to this article.