Visitors 27
Modified 22-Aug-24
Created 8-Aug-24
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In the early morning hours of August 8, 2024, the remnants of Hurricane Debby were passing through the Baltimore region and steadily hard rain had been falling over the area for the past day. A dwelling fire was reported in the 400 block of Normandy Avenue in the Allendale neighborhood of west Baltimore. Fire Box 53-31 was dispatched at 0352 hours. When companies arrived, they were faced with a 2-story brick vacant dwelling with heavy fire showing from both floors. An operating liquor/grocery store was in the basement of the end of group row houses.
Exterior operations were established from the start as the structure seemed unsafe to enter. Battalion Chief 3 arrived and took Command and asked for a working fire assignment five minutes later. Companies set up ladder pipes and began attacking the fire that was now through the roof. As the fire began darkening down heavy smoke covered the whole neighborhood creating limited visibility. About 20 minutes into the fire fight the top parapet wall collapsed on to the front porch roof bringing it down. Command then requested the second alarm.
Firefighters were not able to enter the building and continued to flood the hidden fire inside. The fire was placed under control in two hours. Units remained on the scene and the Department of Public Works arrived in the morning to begin demolition of the building. Then the firefighters were able to completely extinguish the buried pockets of fire.
Exterior operations were established from the start as the structure seemed unsafe to enter. Battalion Chief 3 arrived and took Command and asked for a working fire assignment five minutes later. Companies set up ladder pipes and began attacking the fire that was now through the roof. As the fire began darkening down heavy smoke covered the whole neighborhood creating limited visibility. About 20 minutes into the fire fight the top parapet wall collapsed on to the front porch roof bringing it down. Command then requested the second alarm.
Firefighters were not able to enter the building and continued to flood the hidden fire inside. The fire was placed under control in two hours. Units remained on the scene and the Department of Public Works arrived in the morning to begin demolition of the building. Then the firefighters were able to completely extinguish the buried pockets of fire.
© Howard Meile III