A two-alarm fire tore through a two-story rowhouse on Rayner Avenue in West Baltimore last night, sending thick smoke down the block and pulling in a heavy response from city fire crews. Neighbors reported seeing flames from the street as multiple companies moved in to knock down the blaze. Officials said there were no injuries as firefighters worked the scene into the night.
When firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke and fire on both floors of the home and quickly upgraded the incident to a two-alarm response, according to WBAL NewsRadio. The outlet also reported that crews were dealing with a separate fire on nearby Norfolk Avenue at the same time, stretching the city's resources. Police told WBAL the Rayner Avenue blaze broke out near the site of an earlier shooting, a detail that has added urgency to the investigation.
City crews stretched by multiple blazes
Multi-alarm fires have been popping up across Baltimore this month, putting pressure on already busy companies and equipment, and often involving vacant or unstable structures. As reported in coverage of a second-alarm vacant rowhouse blaze on Westwood Avenue earlier this month, that incident required an expanded response and underscored the department's caution around compromised buildings. Fire officials have repeatedly urged residents to stay clear of active firegrounds while crews shore up structures and hunt for lingering hot spots.
Investigation and safety steps
Baltimore police and fire investigators stayed on Rayner Avenue into Wednesday night, working to determine what sparked the fire and whether it had any connection to the earlier shooting nearby. Police told WBAL NewsRadio they are asking anyone with video or information to reach out to detectives. Officials also advised residents to avoid the area while firefighters fully extinguish the blaze and clear the scene.
