Home»BALTIMORE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT»INCIDENTS»2017 Fires and Incidents»2-Alarms 8211 Pulaski Highway 2-22-17

Right around noon on February 22, 2017 a fire was reported in the All Service Tire Company located at 8211 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale. Eastside companies responded and found on location a fire inside the one-story brick building housing a tire business and service center. Four employees escaped the fire before firefighters arrived. Crews advanced lines into the structure and knocked the fire down. They checked for extension and everything seemed to be under control. After about 30 minutes firefighters were beginning to pull lines out and starting to pack up when smoke started coming out of the roof eaves in the rear of the building. Battalion Chief 34 then requested a Working Fire Task Force along with two additional Engine Companies. The smoke intensified throughout the building and as crews evacuated fire broke through the roof at the back of the building. A steady wind was blowing heavy black smoke across Route 40, the main thoroughfare in and out of Baltimore City and County Police had to close it down in both directions.
As the fire burned through the building it ignited stored tires inside and a pile of tires outside alongside the building as well as the roof structure. As additional units arrived ladder pipes and monitor pipes were set up on all four sides of the fire. A chain link fence had to be cut down in the rear to access the burning pile of tires outside. A motel on side B had to be evacuated as a precaution due to the heavy smoke conditions.
As the fire intensified and seemed unstoppable Command asked for the second alarm at 1237 hours. Because of the burning rubber products a special call went out for Martin State Airport’s foam crash truck. Another call was placed for HazMat 114 to monitor the toxic smoke and runoff from the fire.
During the height of the fire the rear wall collapsed along with a section of the roof. The fire wasn’t placed under control until well after 1900 hours leaving it a total loss. The building inspector was called to the scene along with Fire Investigation to determine the cause. Both lanes of Route 40 were reopened to traffic by 4:30. One firefighter was transported from the scene with heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation.