Warehouse Fire Leads To Oil Spill In Jones Falls

Coast Guard pollution responders take oil sabples and oversee contractor cleanup near Mr. Trash Wheel. Credit: U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Kendrick

Baltimore City firefighters were assisted by crews from three neighboring counties to tackle a 4-alarm fire that broke out in an abandoned warehouse in east Baltimore on Thursday evening.

The fire led to an oil spill state officials said was contained Friday afternoon.

Crews were called to the 1100 block of Madison Street for reports of a fire around 8:30 p.m., fire officials said.

The fire was initially classified as a 2-alarm fire; however, it was reclassified as a 4-alarm fire, and additional units were called to the scene to assist, officials say.

Crews from Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard counties assisted Baltimore firefighters

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unclear.

The fire led to an oil spill in the Jones Falls between Pier 6 and President Street. The state assisted the U.S. Coast Guard and a federal contractor in responding to the spill.

"The oil spill has been contained with deployed sorbent sweep material and existing boom equipment that is used to channel debris into one of the City's trash wheels,” Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles said in a statement. “The state’s rapid response to this incident, working in coordination with city and federal partners, quickly contained the problem and prevented further issues.”

Coast Guard pollution responders arrived at around 4 a.m.

“The flow of the water is bringing the oil to us, so that’s in our benefit," Chief Petty Officer Sean Devine, an on-site pollution responder, said in a statement. "It will eventually all end up here — how long that takes depends on how much oil has been released, that we don’t know about, and how much could potentially leave the source.”

Gov. Larry Hogan held a conference call with top officials. MDE sent three response trucks, one boom trailer, a response boat and three responders to Baltimore. Administration officials are working with the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore and organizers of the Baltimore Flotilla to advise kayakers and others to avoid the area while work continues.

#BCFD on scene of a 2-Alarm fire in the 1100 bulk of Madison St. PIO on scene. Media staging at Madison & Stirling Sts @ChiefNilesRFord @mayorbcyoung pic.twitter.com/z5KiLMfPlg — Baltimore Fire (@BaltimoreFire) June 7, 2019

Warehouse fire now upgraded to a 4th Alarm. Additionally units on scene to help battle #WarehouseFire @mayorbcyoung @ChiefNilesRFord pic.twitter.com/5mSUnViH3v — Baltimore Fire (@BaltimoreFire) June 7, 2019