January 14, 2005

Baltimore City firefighters have responded to a raging fire around 1 p.m. at a warehouse in the city's Druid Hill neighborhood Friday.

As of 1:10 p.m., firefighters have issued five alarms. The warehouse is located at Druid Hill Avenue at Retreat Street.

Fire officials said there were no reports of anyone inside after the fire started, and there were no reports of injuries.

Firefighters are trying to keep the fire isolated to the warehouse structure itself, and they do not believe there is a risk to surrounding homes, WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team lead investigative reporter Jayne Miller reported. Druid Hill Avenue is closed at the location as fire crews respond.

Firefighters are fighting the blaze from the outside because they deemed it was too risky for firefighters to go in. They had tried to attack the fire from the building's inside, but they had to pull back, Miller reported.

The brick building houses Styrofoam products and could be at least 85 years old, according to some elderly neighbors who said the building was erected before their time, Miller reported. The building is believed to have been used at one time as a stop on the city's streetcar line.