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Modified 26-Jun-20
Created 29-Mar-20
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In the early morning hours of March 28th a torrential rainstorm came through Baltimore and residents reported hearing a loud boom in the area about 8:00 AM.
At around 0900 hours Fire Communications received calls reporting a church fire at Aisquith and E. Eager Streets in east Baltimore. Fire Box 6-20 was dispatched at 0907. Units from the Oldtown Station arrived and found smoke showing from the top of the steeple of a very large 187 year-old multi-story brick church. Battalion Chief 2 immediately made it a working fire followed quickly by a second alarm. Companies made entry into the church and attempted to reach the steeple. Crews were having trouble pulling handlines and navigating the narrow winding stairs in the tower leading to the 250’ high steeple.
Within minutes heavy fire was coming from the steeple and the interior crews were ordered to abandon their mission and evacuate the building. Due to falling slate shingles and the fear of the steeple collapsing, a collapse zone was established and exterior operations were ordered. Homes in the immediate area were also evacuated as a precaution.
Initially low water pressure hampered efforts of the water reaching the fire in the steeple. The fire continued to burn down into the tower as shingles and chunks of burning wood rained down onto the street below. Around 0945 the whole steeple was fully involved and Command requested a third alarm and a special call for Tower 81. Around this time the Water Department arrived on the scene and started shutting down different grids in the area to increase the water pressure in the immediate area of the fire. By 1030 the whole outer covering was burned off and just the inner support structure was standing and still burning. And suddenly, without warning, the top half of the steeple collapsed forward and into the street below. Command requested the fourth alarm at this time. Tower 81 relocated closer to the corner of the church and began to flow water into the top of the structure knocking down the remaining visible fire. Eventually units were able to re-enter the church to overhaul and evaluate the integrity of the church tower. No injuries were reported and a lightning strike was listed as the probable cause.
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