BALTIMORE – A massive fire engulfed a warehouse in West Baltimore, requiring the efforts of over 200 firefighters to bring it under control. The blaze, which occurred Monday evening, led to disruptions in Amtrak rail service and necessitated the temporary evacuation of dozens of local residents.
Rail services, including those for commuters, were halted on Tuesday due to concerns that the building might collapse onto the nearby tracks. Responders were called to the multilevel structure located at Edmondson Avenue and Bentalou Street at around 7 p.m. Monday, encountering a significant conflagration, as reported by the Baltimore City Fire Department. Around 30 residents from neighboring homes were moved as a precaution.
By early Tuesday, fire crews had managed to contain the flames within the warehouse, though they continued to combat remaining hot spots and entrenched fires, according to fire department spokesperson John Marsh. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported.
The fire’s origin remained undetermined, with investigations ongoing to pinpoint where the blaze initially broke out, said Fire Chief James Wallace at a conference Tuesday. Authorities at both city and state levels will be looking into the incident, and Wallace mentioned that he has solicited assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to lead the investigation.
Wallace explained, “The ATF brings a wealth of resources for us, and considering the scale and impact of the fire, including the disruption to rail services, it’s crucial to harness every available resource to determine the cause.”
It is speculated that while parts of the warehouse might still have been in use, other sections appeared to be vacant, though details on the building’s past usage were not fully available.
Wallace emphasized, “This is the largest fire we’ve seen in several years, tallying to seven alarms. It was essential to deploy additional resources such as aerial ladders and enhanced water supply to combat it effectively.”
The warehouse is adjacent to railroad lines, which led Amtrak to temporarily suspend services between Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. Services resumed by Tuesday morning yet were limited to a single track, and Amtrak cautioned travelers to expect delays throughout the day in the Northeast Corridor.
Due to the fire and concerns of a structural collapse impacting the tracks, the Maryland Transit Administration also halted MARC’s Penn line commuter services on Tuesday morning. Services resumed later, following a Saturday schedule, although significant delays continued to affect travelers.