Visitors 114
Modified 25-Dec-24
Created 14-Sep-24
130 photos
On Friday, September 13th around 8:30 in the evening the crew from Truck 8 was in front of their quarters on Frederick Avenue when they saw and smelled smoke in the St. Joseph’s neighborhood of southwest Baltimore. They mounted their truck to investigate and found the origin of it right around the corner in the 3300 block of Old Frederick Road. Heavy smoke was coming from a 100-year-old 2-story vacant frame former tavern with a second-floor apartment above. They asked for the fire box to be dispatched and went to work opening up the building. Heavy smoke was evident throughout both floors of the whole structure.
As companies arrived, they went to work with ventilating and an aggressive interior attack. As firefighting efforts continued the fire was working its way into the walls and ceilings above the interior crews. Battalion Chief 3, in Command decided it was time to evacuate everyone and start an exterior attack, and upgrading the incident to a working fire. There was no access to the “D” side of the building and firefighters opened up the exterior walls and roof to get at the advancing fire. Ladder pipes were set up and once the roof was opened they flooded the building with water while continuing to open up exterior walls.
Companies battled the hidden fire for about 90 minutes before they gained control of it. Units remained on the scene for several hours chasing hot spots. Fire Investigation was on the scene to determine the cause. There were no injuries reported.
As companies arrived, they went to work with ventilating and an aggressive interior attack. As firefighting efforts continued the fire was working its way into the walls and ceilings above the interior crews. Battalion Chief 3, in Command decided it was time to evacuate everyone and start an exterior attack, and upgrading the incident to a working fire. There was no access to the “D” side of the building and firefighters opened up the exterior walls and roof to get at the advancing fire. Ladder pipes were set up and once the roof was opened they flooded the building with water while continuing to open up exterior walls.
Companies battled the hidden fire for about 90 minutes before they gained control of it. Units remained on the scene for several hours chasing hot spots. Fire Investigation was on the scene to determine the cause. There were no injuries reported.
© Howard Meile III