Warehouse Fire Sends Smoke over Baltimore

Sept. 25, 2017
Fire crews battled a four-alarm blaze at a warehouse in the Fairfield area of South Baltimore.

Sept. 25--Baltimore fire crews were battling a four-alarm fire at a warehouse in the Fairfield area of South Baltimore. The blaze put off a large plume of smoke visible across the Baltimore area Monday morning.

Baltimore Fire Department spokesman Roman Clark said the call came in around 6:45 Monday morning. Fire officials said 118 firefighters and 36 pieces of apparatus were fighting the blaze at 1026 E. Patapsco Ave.

The 94,000-square-foot warehouse, owned by the secondhand textile company Whitehouse and Schapiro LLC, contains toys, clothing and packing supplies, Clark said.

Company president William Schapiro said he is in shock, but thankful there were no injuries.

"The damage looks extensive and we won't know full extent of it until tomorrow," he wrote in an email. "Our concerns right now are for our employees. Suppliers and customers worldwide. Finding alternate ways to process our merchandise during the rebuilding of our plant."

Parts of the warehouse roof and rear wall had collapsed, Clark said.

Aerial footage showed multiple buildings on fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, he said. No injuries have been reported.

"This is a very labor intensive situation we have right now," Clark said. He anticipated firefighters would remain on the scene until at least lunchtime, and urged motorists to avoid the area.

Resident Charles Hynes, 55, said he was shocked by the huge plume of smoke coming from the warehouse. He said it's especially concerning coming just a week after an acid leak in a nearby chemical plant prompted a shelter-in place warning.

"It's just crazy around here. This whole neighborhood is crazy," Hynes said. "There's always something."

Lisa Miller works at By Grace Counseling Services, which is also in the 1000 block of Patapsco.

As she drove to work, she said she grew increasingly scared the black smoke was emanating from the substance abuse center.

She said she hopes firefighters get the flames under control soon, as she's still worried about her workplace. She's also concerned about more air pollution after the acid leak incident.

"This area needs a break," said Miller, 40.

Baltimore Sun reporter Jessica Anderson contributed to this report.

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