4 Alarm Fire At Business In Fells Point
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Crews were on the scene of a large 4 alarm blaze on South Broadway in Fells Point early Friday morning.
The area is shutdown and officials are urging people to try to avoid it. Smoke is over different parts of the city as over 125 people continue to work to put the fire out.
The blaze started in the paint store Buddeke's Paint. All of the materials inside caused the fire to burn hot and long, eventually collapsing the roof and floor and spreading to a nearby church.
Just an hour into the call, Buddeke Paints had already lost its roof and floors were in the process of collapsing.
"At this time we don't know the origin of the fire," said Blair Adams, Baltimore City Fire Spokeswoman. "We are performing a series of operations for two reasons. Primarily because one, it's a paint company and we don't know the interior structure of the building and then also we believe there maybe flammable substances inside."
Whatever was inside, the fire skipped outside from roof to roof. The block is old, with many small additions together forming bigger buildings.
Buddeke's Paint was in that location for 150 years and spread to 6 different buildings that are all adjacent to each other. The man who owns the business next door along the firewall told WJZ reporter Mike Schuh he has smoke and fair damage but considering what happened, he feels blessed.
At the top of the block, the Fells Point Station Apartments. About 50 people evacuated as a precaution and waited until dawn to return inside.
By dawn, the fire appeared to be under control.
No one was injured.
This is a developing story, stay with WJZ for updates.
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