First Fire

More than 100 Baltimore firefighters battled a four-alarm fire Tuesday that routed residents from their homes, closed businesses and shut down several streets in Fells Point throughout the day. It also raised a few residents' concerns about the neighborhood's third major fire in less than five months. The latest fire, first reported at 4:25 a.m., further ravaged a five-story building in the 500 block of S. Broadway that had sustained more than $1 million in damage during a five-alarm fire June 11. It once housed a grocery store on the street level but has been unoccupied for more than a year.

The Deputy State Fire Marshal is calling for the public's help as officials work to solve a series of suspected arsons in the Cambridge area of Dorchester County. The latest fire occurred 10:17 p.m. Friday, April 5, and involved a two-story, vacant home at 812 Fairmount Avenue, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office. Officials said three other fires occurred on March 20 and March 26. The first fire March 20, at 11:44 p.m., occurred at 617 High Street and involved a vacant two-story single family dwelling.

Insulation smoldering from a devastating fire more than two weeks ago at the historic Prince George's County Courthouse touched off a one-alarm blaze there yesterday morning. Prince George's County fire crews responded about 6 a.m. at the rear of the old courthouse, known as the Duvall Wing, said Prince George's County Fire Department spokesman Chauncey Bowers. Crews put out flames in a couple of rooms on the second and third floors, which were damaged in the previous fire, within 30 minutes, Bowers said.

Baltimore fire officials are investigating how a home in Northeast Baltimore burst into flames early Wednesday morning just hours after an earlier fire at the same address had been brought under control. Both fires rose to two alarms, the fire department said. The first fire caused significant damage to the basement and first and second floors of the home in the 4800 block of Greencrest Road, in the city's Frankford neighborhood, officials said. The fire was contained to the home, but smoke damage was sustained by an adjacent home, officials said.

Two small fires were set yesterday at Baltimore's Southwestern High School complex, according to Antonio Williams, chief of the city schools police. The first fire was reported about 8:30 a.m. in a storage room on the first floor of the school in the 200 block of Font Hill Ave. "Someone stuffed something under the door and ignited it," Williams said. The second fire occurred a few minutes later in the boys locker room in the building's basement. Williams said that someone ignited a T-shirt and stuffed it under the door.

Baltimore fire officials are investigating how a home in Northeast Baltimore burst into flames early Wednesday morning just hours after an earlier fire at the same address had been brought under control. Both fires rose to two alarms, the fire department said. The first fire caused significant damage to the basement and first and second floors of the home in the 4800 block of Greencrest Road, in the city's Frankford neighborhood, officials said. The fire was contained to the home, but smoke damage was sustained by an adjacent home, officials said.

Mayor Martin O'Malley is moving up plans to place a $1.5 million sprinkler system in a city-owned high-rise apartment building after a second fatal fire in two months traumatized some residents there. The fires - one Jan. 16 and the other Friday - occurred at 727 Druid Park Lake Drive, one of two connected high-rises at Lakeview Towers across from Druid Lake. Three people died in the two fires. In a 90-minute meeting with about 100 residents, O'Malley also promised to replace often-broken elevators and wire smoke alarms to automatically trigger a monitoring service that could alert the Fire Department sooner if another blaze occurs.

Investigators from the Maryland state fire marshal's office are asking the public's help with information about two arsons that occurred in Harford County over the weekend, authorities said. The first fire was at Aberdeen High School on Paradise Road, where someone set fire to football and other sports equipment that was stored under the bleachers. A school employee who was on the grounds for another event discovered the fire about 4:15 p.m. Saturday, said Deputy State Fire Marshal Joseph G. Zurolo Jr. Damage to the equipment was estimated at $3,000.

McKinstrys Mill couple's home burnsA 57-year-old McKinstrys Mill farmer and his 45-year-old wife lost their second home in 10 years to a fire that destroyed their century-old log house on Sunday.Albert and Nancy Runkles were working on their dairy farm in the 1400 block of McKinstrys Mill Road when the fire was discovered by a passing motorist about 3:30 p.m.The intense blaze caused about $50,000 damage to the Runkleses' house and personal property, according to deputy chief state fire marshal Bob Thomas.

Two Glen Burnie fires early yesterday that caused damage totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars were being investigated as possible cases of arson by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. The first fire was reported about 1 a.m. at Bob Bell Ford in the 7100 block of Ritchie Highway, where a passing motorist noticed flames, said Division Chief John M. Scholz, the Fire Department's spokesman. Investigators found that two vehicles about 100 yards apart had been set ablaze, with the fire spreading.

More than 100 Baltimore firefighters battled a four-alarm fire Tuesday that routed residents from their homes, closed businesses and shut down several streets in Fells Point throughout the day. It also raised a few residents' concerns about the neighborhood's third major fire in less than five months. The latest fire, first reported at 4:25 a.m., further ravaged a five-story building in the 500 block of S. Broadway that had sustained more than $1 million in damage during a five-alarm fire June 11. It once housed a grocery store on the street level but has been unoccupied for more than a year.

Fire officials suspect the same person who set a fire that caused half a million dollars in damage to the Denny's restaurant in Edgewood earlier this month also set a fire at the restaurant in early July. Deputy state fire marshals are seeking help from the public with information about two fires inside the Denny's at 1803 Edgewood, one on July 4 and the second on Aug. 3. The first fire, at approximately 8:45 a.m. on July 4, was in the trash can in the men's restroom. Damages were minimal and contained to the trash can. It was initially believed to be accidental by management and fire service response was not requested.

As an independent commission begins its review into a friendly-fire shooting that killed a Baltimore police officer in January, the city spending board on Wednesday approved $45,000 already spent for the officer's funeral and $75,000 to fund the commission's investigation of his death. Officer William H. Torbit Jr. was fatally shot by fellow officers in January after responding in plainclothes to a disturbance outside a Paca Street club. Torbit was overcome by an unruly crowd and is believed to have fired his service weapon and killed a civilian, Sean Gamble.

Smith looking shaky Sam Farmer Los Angeles Times With the looming possibility of a work stoppage when the collective bargaining agreement expires in March, NFL owners will be hesitant to lock into long-term deals with coaches. So any coach fired this season probably will be replaced on an interim basis. That said, the Bears' Lovie Smith is likely the first to go. He has been on shaky ground the past couple of seasons, and judging by a first glimpse of the Bears, this could be a long one. They survived their opener against the Lions only because of a wrong-headed rule about what is and isn't a reception.

On Aug. 18, 1907, Aberdeen suffered from a devastating fire that destroyed two buildings and damaged several others. According to the Record, the fire broke out at 2 a.m. after a failed robbery attempt at Nelson, Worthington and Brothers Hardware Store. Dropped matches ignited the fire, which quickly spread to the neighboring Aberdeen Hotel. During the fire, a large can of gunpowder exploded with a thunderous roar. The explosion then set fire to a shoe store, Crown Hall, the First National Bank and several residences.

Investigators from the Maryland state fire marshal's office are asking the public's help with information about two arsons that occurred in Harford County over the weekend, authorities said. The first fire was at Aberdeen High School on Paradise Road, where someone set fire to football and other sports equipment that was stored under the bleachers. A school employee who was on the grounds for another event discovered the fire about 4:15 p.m. Saturday, said Deputy State Fire Marshal Joseph G. Zurolo Jr. Damage to the equipment was estimated at $3,000.

Two houses were set afire and one person was slightly injured yesterday morning in a spate of arson in the Owings Mills area that left Baltimore County police with unanswered questions."

The Deputy State Fire Marshal is calling for the public's help as officials work to solve a series of suspected arsons in the Cambridge area of Dorchester County. The latest fire occurred 10:17 p.m. Friday, April 5, and involved a two-story, vacant home at 812 Fairmount Avenue, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office. Officials said three other fires occurred on March 20 and March 26. The first fire March 20, at 11:44 p.m., occurred at 617 High Street and involved a vacant two-story single family dwelling.

It covers 38 acres at the edge of a landfill and annoys some of its neighbors. But Howard County public safety officials are thrilled with the continued progress of the $35 million police and fire training center in Marriottsville. And tomorrow, the facility will be dedicated to state Sen. James N. Robey, the former county executive and police chief who was a strong proponent for the center. "This is a great time to dedicate it," said Fire Chief Joseph Herr. "It's where we're going to train the people that are going to provide the emergency services."