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Modified 12-Nov-19
Created 2-Jul-19
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Around 1930 hours on July 1st Baltimore City Fire Communications began receiving 911 calls reporting heavy smoke from a tire warehouse in the vicinity of Mosher and Bentalou Streets in west Baltimore. Over 65 calls were received from all over the City reporting the smoke. At about the same time Engine 36 looked out of the front door of their quarters and saw the column of smoke and started to respond to investigate. Right around that time Communications began dispatching the Fire Box 36-11. Foam Engine 57 was added to the box due to the report of tires being in the warehouse.
When Engine 36 travelled the three blocks to Lafayette Avenue they were greeted by a vacant 5-story brick warehouse with heavy smoke showing from the rear. Access was very limited to one side of the building. The fire was actually in a separate one-story former tire company behind the 150’ X 350’ building. The fire building could only be accessed through 2 alley ways from the south and west side. The main driveway from the west side had tractor trailers parked on both sides of the street along with trailers parked in front of both buildings. Amtrack rail lines were sitting below grade on the east side and another building blocked the north side.
When newly promoted Battalion Chief 3, Jake VanGelder arrived on the scene he took Command and quickly asked for the second alarm. Fire and heavy smoke was showing through the roof and the column of smoke was visible from all over the City as well as Baltimore County.
There was no immediate threat to residents in the neighborhood from the smoke. As companies arrived and set up ladder pipes for exterior operations he requested the third alarm at 2009 hours. Three ladder pipes along with Tower 81 and several monitor pipes and handlines kept the fire in check.
Around 2100 hours a burning glow was noticed in the third floor windows of the large building in front. Shift Commander Dante Stewart, now in Command, requested that the fourth alarm be struck out. When units arrived they entered that building and discovered that it was only a pile of trash and debris burning on the third floor. Companies continued operating throughout the night and the fire was declared under control around 0200 hours.
Mutual Aid units from Baltimore, Anne Arundel, and Howard County transferred into the City and filled in stations around the area.
Approximately 135 firefighters with 40 pieces of apparatus responded to the incident. There was one firefighter reported injured with a minor injury. Fire Investigation and Police Arson was on the scene to find out the cause.
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