Baltimore Fire: Massive Blaze Causes Business Disruptions, Officials Respond

A five-alarm fire broke out in downtown Baltimore on Sunday. It impacted many businesses, including Thai Elephant Wok, Docs Famous Wings, Jano Ethiopian Cuisine, The Goddess Gentleman’s Club, Lombard Liquors, and an adjacent apartment. The Baltimore City Fire Department stated that no one was injured, although several of the structures were severely damaged.

The fire, which started at 9:26 a.m. near South Lombard and Eutaw streets, prompted a swift response from the city’s fire department. Fire Chief James Wallace claimed that around 240 firefighters and 72 apparatus from multiple agencies were dispatched to fight the fire. By 10 a.m., the situation had escalated to a five-alarm fire, indicating the need for further resources.

Crews spotted considerable smoke pouring from the corner buildings, prompting the activation of a second alarm. To suppress the fire, firefighters used aerial master streams, which involved dumping water from above with hoses and aerial ladders. At one point, nine hoses sprayed water on the afflicted structures at the same time. Baltimore Fire Station No. 1, located barely a block away, was vital to the reaction.

Officials declared the fire under control by 1 p.m., although personnel stayed on-site to keep an eye out for any hot spots. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, and officials were unable to determine where it began. However, Wallace stated that some buildings suffered “significant damage,” while firemen were able to keep the fire from spreading to others.

Because to the ongoing inquiry, firefighters were unable to access the structures to assess the full extent of the damage. Smoke was visible billowing over the area for long of Sunday morning, and the roadways were clogged with water and debris. Nearby alarms continued to sound, heightening the sense of urgency.

The fire caused considerable disruptions to local traffic and public transit. The Baltimore Department of Transportation blocked many roadways in the impacted region, including Paca-Eutaw and Pratt-Baltimore. Drivers were encouraged to utilize the Waze app for live updates. Furthermore, the Maryland Transit Administration stopped light rail operations in the Central Business District and built a bus bridge connecting North Avenue to Cromwell and North Avenue to BWI Marshall Airport.

The fire’s proximity to Oriole Park at Camden Yards aroused worries, especially because the Baltimore Orioles were slated to play the Detroit Tigers at 1:35 p.m. Fire authorities were in contact with the Maryland Stadium Authority, but the interruptions around the stadium were likely to last far into the game.

Despite the scale of the fire, authorities maintained that no injuries had occurred. The investigation into the cause of the blaze and a full assessment of the damages were expected to continue over the coming days.