Home»BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT»INCIDENTS»2011 Fires and Incidents»2-Alarm Mt. Washington Tavern 10-31-11

On October 31, 2011 fire broke out in an historic 100 year-old tavern building in the Mount Washington area of Baltimore around 4:30 AM. As companies approached the scene heavy smoke was see banking down in the neighborhood. When they arrived on the scene they had a 2-story stone and frame restaurant/tavern with heavy fire on the second floor and through the roof. Companies made their way into the building but were pulled out due to the deteriorating fire conditions. A working fire was declared at 4:43 followed by a second alarm about 24 minutes later. Firefighters proceeded to battle the flames with ladder pipes and master streams. All of the visible fire was knocked down by 6:30.
Firefighters continued to pour water onto the structure into the mid-morning. At one point the fire picked back up in the bar area of the building on the D side. They tore into the exterior wall and attacked the fire with hand lines. Around 8:30 a special call for two more engines and one truck was placed. Pikesville Volunteer Tower 323 was also called to the scene.
The fire was placed under control at 9:29 AM. The building was heavily damaged The Mount Washing Tavern was built in the late 1800’s. The present owner has operated it for the last 32 years. It is the mainstay of the old historic neighborhood of Mount Washington. He said he is going to rebuild it and expects the insurance to cover the damages. A lot of historic antiques and local art that adorned the interior were lost in the fire including some 1800’s era chandeliers from the old Gayiety Theatre in Baltimore’s famous “Block”
No injuries were reported and firefighters were on the scene throughout the following night on fire watch duty to keep smoldering debris inside in check. The following day restoration services were on the scene clearing out debris and boarding up the structure.
Investigators were on the scene to determine the cause. The restaurant had closed up at 2:00 AM and it was thought that it might have started in the kitchen.