Third-alarm warehouse fire in southeast Baltimore disrupts Eastern Avenue traffic

A third-alarm warehouse fire in southeast Baltimore sent smoke across the city Tuesday afternoon and shut down a key stretch of Eastern Avenue, disrupting commuters, freight traffic and nearby industrial businesses in Brewers Hill and Highlandtown.

Crews were called to the 4200 block of Eastern Avenue, near South Haven Street and the 4215 Eastern Avenue address tied to Alliance Roofing Company and Alliance Exterior Construction, shortly before 3 p.m. Firefighters arrived to heavy smoke and immediately called it a working fire. The response escalated from a two-alarm fire at 3:02 p.m. to a three-alarm fire at 3:35 p.m. as more units were requested.

Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace said crews made a deliberate decision to stay outside the building because it was an older metal structure and the stability was in doubt. “They made a tactical decision not to enter this building,” Wallace said. Firefighters also had trouble getting water to the scene because the warehouse sat toward a dead-end street, forcing crews to stretch lines from Eastern and Haven Street.

The building stored hazardous materials, including glues, solvents, oxygen, propane, gas, a waste oil tank, acetylene, gasoline and adhesives. Officials said the materials were properly stored and secured, but the Maryland Department of the Environment still responded to assess whether they added to the damage or created cleanup concerns. By about 4 p.m., much of Eastern Avenue between Haven Street and Macon Street had been blocked off, backing up traffic across East Baltimore and slowing movement through a corridor that serves warehouses, contractors and delivery routes.

The fire was severe enough that officials believed the building was likely a total loss. WMAR-2 News later reported the blaze was contained by about 6 p.m., although hot spots remained under observation. WBAL-TV reported one employee was injured but refused treatment after all employees were evacuated. Even with no major injuries and no reports of anyone trapped inside, the fire’s impact spread well beyond one warehouse, cutting off a busy industrial artery and forcing neighbors, workers and drivers to deal with smoke, closures and an uncertain cleanup.