Visitors 68
Modified 19-Dec-23
Created 31-Oct-23
97 photos
Around 1730 hours on Monday, October 30, 2023 as the sun was setting and a moderate rain was falling. Fire Communications began receiving calls reporting smoke in the area of the Edmondson Village Shopping Center in west Baltimore. Engine 53 was dispatched to investigate. At around the same time the dispatchers were watching the news on the television when the WBAL TV news helicopter Sky Chopper 11 broke in with a live shot hovering above a large mansion with heavy smoke and fire showing from one side of the building. Communications dispatchers immediately dispatched the full box assignment to the scene.
On arrival Engine 53 reported a large 3-story stucco abandoned mansion with heavy fire showing from the right side of the front. It is located in a secluded fenced-in area off of the main road and access and water supply would be a problem. Within minutes Command requested a working fire assignment as units were setting up for exterior operations and establishing a water supply. As units prepared for an exterior attack the fire began traveling through the whole building. Within minutes the building was fully involved and fire broke through the roof.
Even though it was raining a brisk wind was blowing and embers were traveling to an area of occupied homes nearby. Command then requested a second alarm at 1738 and units were assigned to cover the area where embers were falling. Companies could only access the front side of the building and ladder pipes and portable monitors were put in place to keep the blowing embers from spreading. Low water pressure in the area was hampering efforts and a third alarm was sounded at 1806 to supplement the water supply. The rain was also helping to keep the embers somewhat in check. There were several interior collapses as firefighting efforts continued and units maintained a collapse safety zone.
The fire was placed under control at 2110 and units maintained a fire watch with companies rotating throughout the night until demolition crews showed up in the morning to tear down the remaining structure.
The grand 42-room “Uplands Mansion” was built in 1850 and passed down through several generations of the family. It became the summer home of the granddaughter of the original owner, a famed Baltimore socialite and philanthropist. She renovated the mansion in 1885 and remained on the property until her death in 1936, when it was left to the Episcopal Church. From 1952-1986 the estate served as the Uplands Home for Church Women. In the early 1990’s the New Psalmist Baptist Church acquired the property and incorporated the historic building into a new church. In 2004 the church outgrew it and relocated to another location. The church was then demolished and the mansion has stood vacant since then.
On arrival Engine 53 reported a large 3-story stucco abandoned mansion with heavy fire showing from the right side of the front. It is located in a secluded fenced-in area off of the main road and access and water supply would be a problem. Within minutes Command requested a working fire assignment as units were setting up for exterior operations and establishing a water supply. As units prepared for an exterior attack the fire began traveling through the whole building. Within minutes the building was fully involved and fire broke through the roof.
Even though it was raining a brisk wind was blowing and embers were traveling to an area of occupied homes nearby. Command then requested a second alarm at 1738 and units were assigned to cover the area where embers were falling. Companies could only access the front side of the building and ladder pipes and portable monitors were put in place to keep the blowing embers from spreading. Low water pressure in the area was hampering efforts and a third alarm was sounded at 1806 to supplement the water supply. The rain was also helping to keep the embers somewhat in check. There were several interior collapses as firefighting efforts continued and units maintained a collapse safety zone.
The fire was placed under control at 2110 and units maintained a fire watch with companies rotating throughout the night until demolition crews showed up in the morning to tear down the remaining structure.
The grand 42-room “Uplands Mansion” was built in 1850 and passed down through several generations of the family. It became the summer home of the granddaughter of the original owner, a famed Baltimore socialite and philanthropist. She renovated the mansion in 1885 and remained on the property until her death in 1936, when it was left to the Episcopal Church. From 1952-1986 the estate served as the Uplands Home for Church Women. In the early 1990’s the New Psalmist Baptist Church acquired the property and incorporated the historic building into a new church. In 2004 the church outgrew it and relocated to another location. The church was then demolished and the mansion has stood vacant since then.
© Howard Meile III