Photos/Story by Michael Schwartzberg

Baltimore County 911 dispatchers received a call at 3:01 p.m. Saturday April 13 reporting a bedroom fire at 131 Willow Glen Drive in Owings Mills,and fire box 31-19 was toned out.

First in BCoFd Engine 19 reported heavy fire and smoke showing on arrival and companies began an aggressive interior attack. Fire conditions quickly worsened, and command requested a 2nd Alarm. Shortly thereafter, evac tones wers sounded and command ordered an exterior operation.

Four ladder pipes (Glyndon Truck 404, BCoFD Truck 18, Owings Mills Truck 313 and Pikesville Truck 323) were used in an effort to battle the flames, which quickly traveled to an adjoining building (133 Willow Glen Drive), and command struck a third alarm.

Baltimore County paid stations 1 (Towson), 2 (Pikesville), 4 (Catonsville), 13 (Westview) , 14 (Brooklandville), 18 (Randallstown) and 19 (Garrison) and volunteers from Owings Mills, Pikesville, Liberty Road, Glyndon, Chestnut Ridge, Reisterstown, Arcadia and Luthervile responded.

About 80 firefighters manning nearly 30 pieces of apparatus responded. 48 apartment units in two buildings were destroyed. Command placed the fire under control at 5:31 p.m.