Home»BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT»INCIDENTS»2012 Fires and Incidents»4-Alarm 517 S. Broadway 11-6-12

For the second time in five months fire struck the same 4-story building in Fells Point. On November 6, 2012 around 4:30AM fire was reported in the previously burned building at 517 S. Broadway. This building was formerly Hechts Department Store that was built in the 1920’s. When firefighters arrived heavy fire was coming from the top two floors and through the roof. Heavy black smoke hung through the whole area. Exterior operations were immediately ordered. The rear of the building was partially demolished from the previous fire on June 11th and now the roof and top floors were collapsing down so firefighters maintained a safety zone.
Three alarms were sounded within 15 minutes and companies set up ladder pipes and monitor pipes as they arrived in the front and rear. Firefighters took handlines up to the roofs of the adjacent buildings to pour water into the fire.
A fourth alarm was struck out around 5:00. Companies began to knock the fire down as daylight broke. By 10:30 the fire was under control and companies remained on the scene throughout the day and into the night maintaining a fire watch. As debris was pulled out companies wet down and checked for hot spots.
Fells Point is an historic area and building inspectors were called in to see if it is possible to preserve the front façade of the fire ravaged building or if the whole building needs to be torn down.
40 pieces of apparatus with 100 firefighters battled the blaze and no injuries were reported. Arson investigators were also on the scene to determine the cause.