Home»BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT»INCIDENTS»2010 Fires and Incidents»5-Alarm 404 E. Baltimore St. 12-6-10

On December 6, 2010 the Baltimore City Fire Department was stretched to the limit when two devastating back-to-back five-alarm fires struck the Downtown area within a 12 hour span.
The first one occurred around 3:45 PM on “The Block”, the infamous red light district in the heart of downtown Baltimore. Assistant Chief, Donald Heinbuch(Car 2), was returning to the Fire Headquarters building located at 401 E. Fayette Street, directly behind the fire building. As he was parking his car alongside the building he noticed smoke coming from a 4-story building at 404 E. Baltimore Street and asked for a fire box and working fire to be transmitted. First reports were of an occupied building and people possibly being trapped inside. As companies were making their way through the heavy downtown traffic people were starting to evacuate from the surrounding buildings in the area. Heavy smoke blanketed Baltimore Street and was blowing in a southeasterly direction across the city. Business people were leaving office buildings as well as scantily-clad strippers from the clubs on “The Block” in front of the fire building.
Chief Heinbuch immediately took command of the fire and quickly struck out five alarms within 30 minutes bringing about 50 pieces of equipment and 150 firefighters from all over the city. The fire was in the rear bottom floor of the building and produced heavy choking smoke reducing visibility in the immediate area to near zero. A large black plume of smoke was visible from areas all over the city. The fire worked its way up through the 100-year old building and eventually went through the roof which fell in about 35 minutes into the fire. The fire threatened the 10-story office building which houses Fire Department Headquarters as well as some other City agencies. Flames licked at the windows above the fourth floor roof but the Fire Department’s Snorkle kept the flames in check. About 2,000 people were evacuated from the building.
Despite the intensity of the blaze no injuries were reported. It was the largest fire in the downtown area in at least ten years.
Three businesses housed in the fire building were burnt out and the adjacent buildings on either side suffered water and smoke damage.
The fire was declared under control about 7:00PM, some three and a half hours after it was discovered. Fire crews remained on the scene throughout the night.
Fire Department investigators were on the scene and because of the magnitude of the investigation the Federal office of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was called in to assist. Baltimore Street and some surrounding streets and many of the businesses remained closed while the ATF remained on the scene. A large crane was brought in and set up in the street to dig out the debris for the investigators to examine. After more than a week on the scene the ATF announced that the fire was classified as “incendiary” and are still looking into whether it was intentionally set or accidental. More than 90 investigators from the ATF, city and state Fire Marshals offices and City Police have assisted with the investigation. A $5,000 reward is also being offered for more information on the fire.
By Wednesday the 15th the streets in the area were finally reopened and businesses were trying to get back to normal.
Damage to the condemned building is estimated at 2-3 million dollars.