The Baltimore County Fire Department battled a brushfire late Saturday night that broke out on the grounds of Sheppard Pratt’s Towson campus near the historic gatehouse.

The fire spanned a wooded area in the valley behind the gatehouse off the east side of Charles Street, not far from Greater Baltimore Medical Center and the Towson University athletic fields.

“It is away from any of our buildings. No impact on operations, nor any patient concerns,” said Tamara Chumley, a spokesperson for Sheppard Pratt.

The brushfire was contained on the property of Sheppard Pratt and did not touch any of the buildings or the historic arch.

“It is not affecting us, and it is now contained,” GBMC spokesperson Krystina Wales said.

Towson University spokesperson Sean Welsh said the fire was “not of any significance to Towson University.”

The fire began at 7:09 p.m. and was one of several brushfires in the county Saturday evening, said Lt. David Blenman, the fire department’s public information officer.

“It was a wind-driven brushfire that required multiple pieces of apparatus to contain and extinguish,” Blenman said as cars, trucks and buses attempted to make U-turns to double back along Charles Street.

Charles Street northbound above the Sheppard Pratt gates was shut down as nearly a dozen fire trucks responded. They included volunteer companies from as far away as Pikesville.

Blenman said that was because of the need for water.

The brushfire spanned about an acre and a half and was mostly contained within an hour, with firefighters attacking hot spots in the area between GBMC and Sheppard Pratt. Patients were still permitted to enter the hospitals.

Power outages dotted the area prior to the fire. Blenman could not say if the fire caused any more.

Red-flag warnings had been in effect for multiple Maryland counties on Saturday as strong winds hitting up to 40 mph and dry conditions created dangerous fire weather across the region.

Officials warned that the risk of fast-spreading wildfires was high, urging residents to avoid outdoor burning and take precautions.

Baltimore County also responded to a separate brushfire that broke out at Harford and Notchcliff roads shortly after 7 p.m. Officials reported the blaze was out about an hour later, but they were checking for hot spots throughout the night.

The Maryland Department of Emergency Management issued the warnings for Frederick, Carroll, Baltimore, Cecil, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties until Saturday night.

A red-flag warning means that a combination of low humidity, increased temperatures and strong winds could lead to extreme fire behavior.

A powerful cold front moved through the area later Saturday, bringing northwest winds of 15-20 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph. Daytime temperatures reached the mid-50s, but they dropped sharply during the night, making for blustery and hazardous conditions.

In addition to the red-flag warning, Anne Arundel County officials issued a fire weather watch until Saturday night, warning that the combination of dry air, strong winds and parched ground could quickly ignite and spread fires.

Residents are urged to use extreme caution with grills, cigarettes and open flames, because fires can spread rapidly under these conditions. Emergency officials will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as needed.

Meanwhile, Baltimore County is preparing for the arrival of colder weather by opening warming shelters from Saturday night through Tuesday at the following locations:

• Eastern Family Resource Center, 9150 Franklin Square Drive, Rosedale
• Lower level of the Woodlawn Library, 1811 Woodlawn Drive, Woodlawn