Firefighters battle two-alarm fire at vacant rowhome in Northwest Baltimore
BALTIMORE- The Baltimore City Fire Department is investigating another vacant rowhome fire.
The two-alarm fire happened around 4:30 a.m. Sunday along Boarman Avenue, according to firefighters.
WJZ was there as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames and figure out how another vacant home fire began.
Sounds of another vacant home being torn down can be heard in the Dorchester neighborhood.
This is something Jacob Kowalski, the Vice-President Dorchester Community Council, says he and his neighbors are working to change.
"We as a neighborhood are actually going around and marking the vacants as we find them, and we also have to work with the council woman's office to pretty much use the spaces as they become available," Kowalski said.
Baltimore's vacant home crisis is felt in all corners of the city.
WJZ has covered this issue extensively for years.
The crisis hit two major breaking points in 2022 and in October 2023 when city firefighters died while battling fires at vacant rowhomes.
Kowalski told WJZ he and many of his neighbors believe they can turn things around by encouraging homeowners to breathe new life into vacant homes or transforming lots where they once stood.
"We've had numerous community gardens spring up, we've had movie nights where we use the open space to show movies," said Kowalski.
He says there are other vacant homes along their street but they're hoping to encourage new or current homeowners to take part in making their neighborhoods better.
"What I hope happens next is a focus on the homesteading action again, just focusing on that and for the programs that we currently have. Getting out and actually talking to the leaders of the community so that even those that aren't technologically savvy, are aware of the programs that exist," KowalskI said. "We really are trying our best to, to grow it as a community and really put our best foot forward for the city."
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.