Reports of smoke and the smell of rubber inundated fire department call centers in Southern Maryland and D.C. on Monday.
What the Helen of Troy is that Smell? https://t.co/TwUEwvYr6u
— PoPville (@PoPville) March 27, 2023
From St. Mary’s to Prince George’s counties, to the District, crews are searching for a source of what’s being described as an “electrical fire smell.”
Is there something in the air in Montgomery County? Apparently there is. Our department is getting multiple calls for smoke in the area. It just might be from a very large fire in North Carolina. Fire departments in the DMV getting the same reports. @mcfrsPIO @mcfrs @MCFRSNews https://t.co/MoZZ8QPCEg
— Lt. Francisco(Franco) Martinez (@mcfrsPIO19) March 27, 2023
Fire officials in Fairfax County, Virginia, said they’ve received similar reports.
No local source has been found, but fire departments are pointing to a 5,200-acre brush fire burning in North Carolina‘s Tyrrell County as a possible culprit.
For residents smelling smoke & seeing a smoky haze, our Fire Department hasn’t found any source in DC. Given that residents in DC region are smelling it, it’s possibly coming from North Carolina wildfire.@PoPville @WTOP @DCist https://t.co/SR06j29kfB
— CA Kevin Donahue (@DC_OCA) March 27, 2023
For residents smelling smoke & seeing a smoky haze, our Fire Department hasn’t found any source in DC. Given that residents in DC region are smelling it, it’s possibly coming from North Carolina wildfire.@PoPville @WTOP @DCist https://t.co/SR06j29kfB
— CA Kevin Donahue (@DC_OCA) March 27, 2023
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources sent out an advisory about the fire Monday morning. It is unclear if that is the source of the haze and rubber smell. WTOP Meteorologist Mike Stinneford said winds appear to be pushing the smoke to the east of the region. At 3 p.m., he said, the Air Quality Index was 92 (moderate). As of 4:15 p.m., it dropped to 32 (good). The National Weather Service said that the smoke should be cleared Monday evening.