Homes Evacuated Amid Major Fire in North Baltimore
Firefighters are evacuating homes due to intense flames and smoke from a large fire in North Baltimore, according to SKY 11 reports. The incident is centered on a commercial building on 23rd Street, east of the Jones Falls Expressway.
Emergency Response and Evacuations
Baltimore City fire, emergency, and police officials are responding to the scene. Firefighters have evacuated the building and adjacent homes while conducting defensive firefighting operations. By 2 p.m., four alarms had been called.
"Firefighters from BCFD 100% saved the houses," said Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace. "Firefighters put themselves between the warehouse and the homes. These men and women absolutely risked their lives, got between this warehouse and those houses in an area I estimate to be about 50 feet. They were working around energized BGE lines, they were working through a very, very high volume of fire – zero visibility up 23rd Street."
Fire Origin and Conditions
The first call reporting the fire was received around 1:18 p.m. It is believed the fire started outside the building and spread rapidly due to strong winds. As conditions worsened, firefighters evacuated 23 civilians from the 400 block of West 23rd Street, relocating them to a nearby church.
Summary
This fire highlights the extreme risks firefighters face while protecting residential areas near large-scale urban fires, emphasizing their courage and dedication.
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