A fuel tanker carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline erupted in flames near Reisterstown, Maryland, overnight, forcing emergency crews to shut down a major section of Interstate 795 and warn nearby residents to prepare for a possible evacuation.
But after hours of dramatic flames, explosion concerns and a large HazMat response, Baltimore County fire officials delivered the most important update: the fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported.
The incident unfolded around the northern end of I-795 near Exit 9 and Westminster Pike, also known as MD 140, an important interchange connecting I-795 with Reisterstown and routes toward Westminster.
What happened on I-795 in Reisterstown?
Emergency crews responded to a tanker fire on northbound I-795 near MD 140 late Friday night into early Saturday, September 12.
Video shows large fire after fuel tanker explodes on I-795 in Reisterstown, Maryland; residents within 1 mile of the incident have been notified to prepare for a possible evacuation. pic.twitter.com/3sRNjYDB5l
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Early reports from the scene described the tanker as fully involved in fire and warned of a severe explosion risk. Firefighters were initially positioned well away from the burning vehicle while the area was secured.
Images and video circulating overnight showed an intense orange glow around the highway and flames rising from the tanker. The situation prompted a multi-agency response involving Baltimore County emergency crews and specialized equipment.
Firefighters eventually attacked the blaze with foam suppressant, which is commonly used during incidents involving flammable liquid fuels. A specialized airport crash-response tanker was also reportedly brought in to assist crews.
Around 12:31 a.m., the Baltimore County Fire Department said the gasoline fire had been extinguished.
In its final fire update, the department described the incident as a truck fire involving approximately 8,000 gallons of gasoline and confirmed that there were no reported injuries.
That figure is worth noting because some of the first reports circulating while the emergency was still developing estimated the tanker was carrying about 9,000 gallons of fuel. The Fire Department’s later update placed the amount at approximately 8,000 gallons.
Why residents within one mile were warned
The scale of the response was not limited to the highway.
As firefighters dealt with the burning tanker, authorities requested that residents within approximately one mile of the incident be notified to prepare for a possible evacuation.
The warning did not mean everyone inside that radius was ordered to leave. Instead, residents were being asked to be ready in case conditions deteriorated and an evacuation became necessary.
That distinction became particularly important as unofficial evacuation maps began circulating online. Residents were urged to follow instructions from emergency authorities rather than evacuating solely on the basis of social-media posts.
The biggest concern during the early stages was the combination of a large quantity of gasoline, intense heat and the potential for additional explosions. Thermal imaging from above was also reportedly used as crews monitored the tanker and surrounding area.
As the operation progressed, firefighters were able to move from the initial defensive response to applying foam and controlling the fire.
By the time Baltimore County Fire issued its final update, the immediate fire emergency had passed without any reported injuries.
The incident nevertheless remained a HazMat and environmental cleanup operation.
The Fire Department said its HazMat team and the Maryland Department of the Environment were at the scene after the flames were extinguished.
That phase can continue long after visible flames disappear. Gasoline or firefighting runoff must be contained, damaged equipment removed and the roadway inspected before traffic can safely return.
Maryland’s environmental agency specifically treats oil and chemical spills as environmental emergencies and maintains a statewide response system for hazardous-material releases.
The Maryland State Highway Administration reported major closures around the scene, including I-795 northbound near Exit 9 and sections of MD 140 around the interchange.
Officials warned that the road would remain closed for an extended period for cleanup operations, meaning extinguishing the fire did not immediately reopen the highway.
The location is particularly disruptive because I-795 is the Northwest Expressway linking Baltimore’s northwestern suburbs with the Baltimore Beltway. Its northern end feeds directly into the MD 140 corridor around Reisterstown.
The exact circumstances that led to the tanker fire were not immediately established in the official updates available early Saturday.
For motorists, the immediate message remained straightforward: avoid the I-795/MD 140 area while emergency and cleanup crews continue working at the scene.
Latest confirmed status: The tanker fire has been extinguished, Baltimore County Fire reported no injuries, HazMat and environmental crews remain involved, and road cleanup is expected to keep the affected area closed for an extended period.
This is a developing story and will be updated if authorities release additional information about the cause, environmental impact or highway reopening.
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