6 vacant homes damaged by fire in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood

BALTIMORE -- Six vacant homes were damaged during a fire Friday morning in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood, according to the Baltimore City Fire Department.

Shortly before 2 a.m., fire crews were dispatched to the 3400 block of Keswick Road for the report of a vacant home on fire, officials said.

When they arrived, firefighters found a two-story home engulfed with heavy smoke and fire.

The fire quickly spread to two other vacant homes. No residents were displaced, but six homes were impacted by the fire. It was under control by 3 a.m., according to officials.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. No injuries were reported, officials said. 

In October, two adults died and multiple families were displaced after a five-alarm fire on the same block of Keswick Road. 

Fire officials said the flames may have started in the middle of the units before quickly spreading and damaging at least eight homes. Matthew Schmale, 63, and his wife Kathy Schmale, 63, died during the incident, according to officials.

Baltimore's Response to the Vacant Housing Crisis

The vacant housing crisis has plagued Baltimore for years, and on Tuesday the City Council passed a bill aimed at addressing the issue.

The bill creates a special property tax for vacant homes with the goal of motivating homeowners to take care of their property or allowing the city to seize control if necessary. 

In the past five years, the city has seen a 20% drop in vacant building notices, but in October, City Councilwoman Odette Ramos said the city has 13,000 properties with vacant designations. There are thousands more vacant buildings that are falling apart, according to the councilwoman.

Under the recently passed bill, taxes on vacant properties will increase threefold starting in the 2026-27 tax year. The tax will increase four times in the following year if needed.