VIDEO: Following several conduit fires in Baltimore, City Council members held a hearing to get more information from utilities and City leaders about what went wrong. “It’s less about assigning the blame, than it is about just making sure that this type of thing gets prevented from happening again,” said Baltimore City Council member Zac Blanchard. Baltimore’s underground conduit network includes about 700 miles of ducts, or pipes, beneath city streets, which support critical utilities. Baltimore City owns the system, and other utilities lease it. However, multiple fires downtown have had a big impact on residents and businesses, disrupting daily life and services. During the hearing, Council members asked questions about inspections, improvements, and the ongoing investigation. “It’s quite concerning these incidents are happening,” said Baltimore County Councilman Yitzy Schleifer.
