Home»BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT»INCIDENTS»2017 Fires and Incidents»1-Alarm 1913 Wilkens Ave. 3-21-17

As the tanker incident was winding down and under control Box Alarm 14-50 was being dispatched for a dwelling fire in the 1900 block of Wilkens Avenue in southwest Baltimore. As units were responding heavy smoke was evident from that area. Engine 55 arrived first and reported heavy fire in the rear as they went past and took the front of the dwelling. They arrived to find heavy fire from both floors of the vacant end of group dwelling in the front. Overtime Battalion Chief 14 arrived and took Command making it a working fire. Units attempted to enter the front and were held there with heavy fire conditions until they knocked it down and then advanced towards the stairs to the second floor. They couldn’t proceed up the stairs because they were burned through. Lines were then taken to the second floor via ground ladders and the fire was brought under control within an hour.
Two firefighters from Engine 55 were burned when they initially entered the front door and were transported to Bayview Burn Center. One was released and the other remained hospitalized for a few days before being released. Fire Investigation was on the scene to determine the cause.