A large commercial fire that sent thick smoke across Baltimore, Md., on a November morning has been contained after breaking out at the Gold Bond Building Products facility. 

Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace told local NBC affiliate WBAL-TV 11 News the blaze was reported around 10:42 a.m. at the two-story, 800,000-sq.-ft. plant, which manufactures drywall and gypsum board. The fire quickly escalated, reaching four alarms within 20 minutes.

By 2 p.m., crews had brought the fire under control. Wallace credited quick, strategic decisions for preventing the flames—fueled by strong winds—from spreading through the massive building.

“This is another example of sound tactical decisions by our initial chiefs and good firefighting techniques,” Wallace said. “The wind could have pushed the fire straight across the building, but crews got ahead of it and cut it off.”

Firefighters initially attacked from the exterior before moving inside. Wallace noted the fire appeared to have started in a mechanical process within the facility, though investigations are ongoing. Employees attempted to put out the flames before evacuating safely, and no injuries were reported.

Due to the building’s height and size, firefighters had to open parts of the structure to stop what they suspect was horizontal fire spread behind the walls.

The response was significant, involving 24 engines, 10 ladder trucks, four fire boats, and mutual aid from surrounding counties. The marine units pumped water from the harbor to assist crews—a rare but necessary step, Wallace said.

Christine Edwards, who works across the street, said her company’s drivers encountered major road closures around the Port of Baltimore, including Keith Avenue.

“We heard the fire trucks and saw the black smoke,” Edwards said. “You could see the flames coming from the roof as trucks arrived. Drivers at the port were calling us because the smoke was heading that way, but we were OK. Traffic around here was backed up for miles.”