Several Homes Evacuated In Canton After Fire At Warehouse Containing Toxic Chemicals
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore City fire officials have evacuated homes after a heavy fire at a warehouse in the 1000-block of Baylis Street in Canton.
Alex DeMetrick has the latest on the chaotic scene.
A number of blocks have been plunged into darkness. The outage was caused by a three-alarm fire at a plating factory.
Firefighters created a collapse zone around the building. But that isn't the only threat. A number of containers holding toxic chemicals used in the plating process turned it into a hazmat response, as well.
"Pretty much a madhouse," said Timothy Wilson, a Canton resident. "The building's full of chemicals. It's a plating company so they're trying to keep it contained to prevent the chemicals from spilling out and burning everywhere. It's been going on like this for a couple of hours now."
"It's our understanding that this warehouse makes plates and due to that, the chemicals that they use on a daily basis are hazardous," Capt. Roman Clark of the Baltimore City Fire Department, said. "So, we have at this time taken all precautionary measures in evacuating some of the homes in the direction in which the wind was blowing, and blowing the embers and the smoke."
It's not clear exactly how many people have been evacuated. Baltimore City fire officials say no one has been hurt in the fire.
To view pictures from the scene, click here.
