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Modified 7-Mar-25
Created 7-Mar-25
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Early in the morning of March 7, 2025 a building fire was reported in the 2200 block of North Fulton Avenue in the Penn-North section of northwest Baltimore. Fire Communications dispatched Fire Box 52-40 at 0342 hours. Engine 52 arrived on the scene within minutes and reported heavy fire in 2227 extending into a church on one side and a vacant “Code X-Ray” dwelling on the other side. Battalion Chief 3 arrived and took Command reporting three 2-story buildings heavily involved in fire. He then ordered Engine 52 to put their deck gun in service and made it a working fire along with a special call for Tower 1. People were reported living in houses at 2223 and 2221 and were promptly evacuated by the crew of Truck 16. Battalion Chief 5 reported to the rear and reported fire through the roof and was walking down the roofs towards the south end of the block. Command then requested a second alarm at 0353.
As units arrived ladder pipes were set up at the north end of the street as well as the front side of the block. By now three buildings were fully involved and impinging on a fourth one, with a stiff wind driving the fire along the roof and through a common cockloft down the block of houses. As the fire was rapidly spreading Command requested engine companies to start setting up with heavy water hook-ups.
Firefighters were getting ahead of the fire entering several houses and going to the upper floors checking for extension. As the fire continued to overtake these dwellings Command ordered evacuations of the houses that they were in. As more units arrived they continued to hook up and put ladder pipes in service as well as large handlines. At 0413 Command ordered the third alarm as the fire was rapidly taking hold of the roofs and second floors, continuing down the block. He reported that the fire was now in all of the buildings from 2229 through 2217 and they were trying to make a stop at 2215. Crews were again entering houses ahead of the fire trying to cut it off but were ordered to evacuate again as the fire burned viciously above them. When the Shift Commander arrived on the fireground he took over Command and requested two more truck companies for ladder pipe operations. At 0425 all units were to continue operating exterior only.
Side Charlie reported zero visibility in the rear due to the heavy smoke conditions as companies were trying to hold their ground with several hand lines as well as ladder pipes at each end of the block. By 0430 fire was showing in every building. Heavy smoke was pushing out of the last two units at 2203 and 2201. Command then requested the fourth alarm to be struck out and units were ordered to find more hydrants and supply ladder pipes. They were now taking a stand to keep the fire from jumping the alley to a large 3-story building on the adjacent Pennsylvania Avenue.
Companies continued to pour water into the whole block and by daybreak you could see the massive devastation of the block involved. Every one of them had the second floors and roofs burned out along with the interiors that collapsed inside. By 0630 the fire was reported to be contained and eventually placed under control at 0713. The fire claimed 15 buildings that included a church, 4 operating businesses, several occupied dwellings, and several more vacant houses and storefronts. Eight people were displaced and were assisted by the Baltimore Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross who were on the scene. There were no reported injuries during the blaze.
Companies continued throughout the day chasing hot spots and investigating and by late afternoon the Department of Public Works began tearing down the damaged structures by an order of Emergency Demolition due to the dangerous condition of the remaining unstable buildings. The people who lived in this block as well as the business owners had now lost everything that they owned.
As units arrived ladder pipes were set up at the north end of the street as well as the front side of the block. By now three buildings were fully involved and impinging on a fourth one, with a stiff wind driving the fire along the roof and through a common cockloft down the block of houses. As the fire was rapidly spreading Command requested engine companies to start setting up with heavy water hook-ups.
Firefighters were getting ahead of the fire entering several houses and going to the upper floors checking for extension. As the fire continued to overtake these dwellings Command ordered evacuations of the houses that they were in. As more units arrived they continued to hook up and put ladder pipes in service as well as large handlines. At 0413 Command ordered the third alarm as the fire was rapidly taking hold of the roofs and second floors, continuing down the block. He reported that the fire was now in all of the buildings from 2229 through 2217 and they were trying to make a stop at 2215. Crews were again entering houses ahead of the fire trying to cut it off but were ordered to evacuate again as the fire burned viciously above them. When the Shift Commander arrived on the fireground he took over Command and requested two more truck companies for ladder pipe operations. At 0425 all units were to continue operating exterior only.
Side Charlie reported zero visibility in the rear due to the heavy smoke conditions as companies were trying to hold their ground with several hand lines as well as ladder pipes at each end of the block. By 0430 fire was showing in every building. Heavy smoke was pushing out of the last two units at 2203 and 2201. Command then requested the fourth alarm to be struck out and units were ordered to find more hydrants and supply ladder pipes. They were now taking a stand to keep the fire from jumping the alley to a large 3-story building on the adjacent Pennsylvania Avenue.
Companies continued to pour water into the whole block and by daybreak you could see the massive devastation of the block involved. Every one of them had the second floors and roofs burned out along with the interiors that collapsed inside. By 0630 the fire was reported to be contained and eventually placed under control at 0713. The fire claimed 15 buildings that included a church, 4 operating businesses, several occupied dwellings, and several more vacant houses and storefronts. Eight people were displaced and were assisted by the Baltimore Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross who were on the scene. There were no reported injuries during the blaze.
Companies continued throughout the day chasing hot spots and investigating and by late afternoon the Department of Public Works began tearing down the damaged structures by an order of Emergency Demolition due to the dangerous condition of the remaining unstable buildings. The people who lived in this block as well as the business owners had now lost everything that they owned.
© Howard Meile III