This story, originally published on March 14, 2024 at 1:29 p.m., was updated on March 15, 2024 at 9:20 a.m. to add that the fire was extinguished Thursday night.
The fire engulfing several oil tanks in a quarry on Piney Meetinghouse Road in Potomac has been extinguished, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) spokesperson Pete Piringer said at 7:20 p.m. on Thursday.
Piringer said that a foam crash truck, which is used to put out aviation fuel fires and fires from aircraft accidents, was brought in from Dulles Airport in Virginia to put out the blaze.
Piringer said that around 11:45 a.m., MCFRS personnel responded to a report of a fire involving oil tanks containing liquid asphalt and used motor oil at FO Day Aggregate Industries, which produces asphalt in its plants and labs. He did not indicate what the cause of the fire was.
The oil tanks are in a quarry area near Travilah and Shady Grove roads, and around 75 firefighters responded to the incident at one point, according to Piringer.
The blaze created a large column of black smoke that could be seen for miles, but there was no immediate danger to the surrounding area, Piringer said.
At 3:51 p.m., Piringer posted on X that additional firefighters responded to the scene to assist, and that the county’s Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security would continue to monitor the air quality. However, no evacuations were necessary, Piringer said.
On Thursday, Montgomery County’s Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security posted on social media that the fire “may cause unhealthy levels of air quality,” and that “residents are advised to take precautions: limit time outdoors, consider closing windows & wearing a mask to limit risk to people with respiratory illnesses.”
