Engine Company Runs Baltimore Ave Fire
Around 0200 hours, Public Safety Communications dispatched the box alarm assignment for a house on fire in the area of the 6100 block of Baltimore Ave. Engine 121 (E812B) just cleared a medical call on campus and requested to run the box from Knox Rd/Baltimore Ave. When E812B was added to the call, E807 advised the given address was a bad address. Public Safety Communications advised they were receiving multiple calls, and the corrected address would be the 6700 block of Baltimore Ave. E807 advised E812B that they would be first arriving. E812B could see the glow coming down Baltimore Ave, and pulled over to lay out. E809 arrived on scene seconds before E812B and requested a unit reverse lay from them to a hydrant. E812B was able to supply them with a 4″ supply line while E812B’s crew stretched the 250ft 2″ attack line. Units reported fire showing from Division 2 and the roof on Side Alpha. A 360 was completed and advised of a walk out basement on Side Charlie, with fire showing on all 3 floors. E812B was directed to stretch their line along Side Bravo. E812B was protecting the Bravo exposure as well as stretching the 2 1/2″ line down Side Bravo. During this time, the building was evacuated and defensive operations ensued. Shortly after this, part of the roof structure collapsed down on to Side Bravo, directly on E812B’s crew and C812. Witnessing personnel immediately called a mayday for an unknown number of firefighters caught in a collapse. Fortunately, members were able to extricate and were assisted off of the fire ground. Companies on the fire ground continued to work on the fire while the crew from E812B and C812 were evaluated. One member was transported to Medstar for an evaluation. E812B was eventually redeployed to the fire ground where they assisted with exterior operations. E812B operated for approximately 4 hours before returning to service. All members are doing well and are expected to return to service shortly.