An overnight fire ripped through a North Baltimore apartment building early Thursday, sending at least two people to the hospital and jolting neighbors out of bed and into the street. Witnesses reported seeing flames shooting from a third-floor unit and said a mother and daughter were forced to jump from a window to escape. Fire crews got the blaze under control quickly, but as of mid-morning, officials had not released the cause of the fire or the extent of the injuries.
What Investigators And Witnesses Reported
According to WMAR-2 News, a witness called 911 shortly before 3 a.m. after spotting flames on the third floor of an apartment complex off Belvedere Avenue, next to Pleasant Hope Baptist Church. WMAR-2 News, which shared photos by Randall Newsome, reports that firefighters quickly knocked down the flames and that at least two people were transported to nearby hospitals. The outlet notes that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Where It Happened
The fire broke out in a building off Belvedere Avenue in a North Baltimore corridor lined with rowhouses and small apartment buildings, near Pleasant Hope Baptist Church at 430 E. Belvedere Ave. MapQuest lists the church at that address.
Baltimore's Recent Fire Risks
Baltimore has faced several serious residential fires in recent months, including a deadly Waverly blaze that led to an arson investigation, according to a fatal Waverly fire. That earlier incident, along with other recent fires, has underscored the vulnerabilities of older housing stock and the ongoing challenge of maintaining smoke alarms and clear escape routes. Fire investigators routinely examine fire scenes for electrical problems, cooking mishaps, and other common triggers as they work to determine what went wrong.
Authorities had not released additional information about the hospitalized residents or the investigation by late Thursday morning. This story will be updated as officials share more details.
