Rowhouse, parts of 3 others collapse in four-alarm blaze
No injuries to West Baltimore residents or to firefighters reported in Monday incident
Baltimore firefighters from all corners of the city descended on Franklin Square in West Baltimore on Monday afternoon to fight a four-alarm fire that enveloped seven buildings and brought a rowhouse and parts of three others crashing to the ground.
Firefighters first arrived at the 1500 block of West Baltimore Street shortly after 2 p.m. They found several buildings on a street of residential row homes and businesses with multiple floors involved in a fire that spread quickly to adjoining properties.
The intensity of the flames and their rapid spread caused firefighters to escalate the fire to a fourth alarm, ultimately bringing more than 100 personnel, 28 fire engines and trucks, several emergency medical units, multiple battalion chiefs and a rescue squad.
The fire appeared concentrated in a vacant house that completely collapsed in an hour from the fire and a barrage of water.
Only a beam remained that connected it to its neighboring buildings, which also sustained significant damage.
A three-story building to the east of the vacant rowhouse partially collapsed. Next to it, a four-story structure also appeared to be abandoned with half-moon windows on the top floor broken, exposing the interior to the elements. A sign that indicated it was a house of worship.
On the west side of the collapsed building is Golden Unicorn, a popular Chinese restaurant that neighbors like Jerniel Carmichael expressed dismay at possibly losing.
Carmichael, who lives down the street, said he was at home when he received numerous phone calls about the fire. He stood behind caution tape and watched firefighters climb up and down ladders to reach rooftops, where they used chain saws to cut away debris.
Warm, breezy weather kicked up embers, causing a tree across the street from the burning buildings to catch fire until firefighters doused it with water. Ashes from the smoldering structures briefly rained down like snow as heavy gray smoke filled nearby streets. Smoke from the large fire was initially visible from as far as Clifton Park in East Baltimore.
No residents or firefighters were injured during the incident, which occurred just blocks away from where three firefighters died in January when a burning vacant building they entered partially collapsed minutes later. Lts. Paul Butrim and Kelsey Sadler and firefighter and EMT Kenny Lacayo were killed Jan. 24 in a fire on South Stricker Street.
On Monday, firefighters attacked the heavy flames from the front, rear and top of the buildings involved, but they did not enter. Thick orange hoses connected to spurting hydrants snaked down surrounding streets, including North Stricker Street, where firefighters blasted the rear of a smoking building with water, causing it to partially collapse.
The fire was mostly under control by 4 p.m. A firefighter smeared with soot sat on the front bumper of an engine and unbuttoned his heavy jacket. He placed his hands on his hips and breathed deeply.
A woman and her two children watched the sprawling scene until a firefighter approached them. He took his helmet off, picked up his daughter and kissed her on the forehead. He then returned to work.
The four-alarm fire also called in firefighters from neighboring counties to provide mutual aid on other emergencies in the city. At least one other building caught fire Monday afternoon.