ATF Helps Determine Cause Of Major Baltimore Fire
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A major investigation is underway to find a cause for Monday's five-alarm fire on the Block.
Alex DeMetrick has the latest details.
It's unlikely we'll hear any fast answers in this fire, but a second five-alarm blaze in Mount Vernon does have a cause.
Fire investigators from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms got their first look at the remains of the Block fire from above. The ATF and state fire marshal's office were called in by Baltimore.
"To help us get to the bottom of what happened here, why this fire started," said Baltimore City Fire Chief James Clack.
It erupted late Monday afternoon and quickly jumped to five alarms. Firefighters battled it well into the night. Between the fire and what it took to put it out, evidence of where it started and how won't be easy to find.
"There was a lot of damage. We dumped a lot of water in there and there was a lot of fire," said Baltimore Fire Marshal Deputy Chief Ray O'Brocki.
The city turned to federal investigators for their resources, but that help won't be needed for Tuesday morning's five-alarm fire in the Mount Vernon area. City investigators have found the cause, but won't release it until later in the week. WJZ's media partner, the Baltimore Sun, is reporting the likely cause is electrical.
To come up with answers on the Block fire, structural damage must first be shored up before investigators can get in.
"It's a very slow, meticulous process. Once we get enough pieces of the puzzle, we'll be able to see the picture," said ATF agent Christopher Porreca.
Investigators won't even guess how long it will take to get a clear picture of where and how this fire started.
ATF has committed 30 investigators to the Block fire, as well as its national analysis lab in Prince George's County.
