Five-Alarm Blaze in Downtown Baltimore Now Under Control, Transit Disruptions Continue

Baltimore, MD (September 3, 2025) - A massive five-alarm fire that erupted Tuesday afternoon at North Howard and West Fayette Streets in downtown Baltimore is now officially under control, city fire officials announced early Wednesday. The blaze, which involved two four-story vacant buildings and one smaller structure, caused one building to collapse and heavily damaged the others before crews were able to contain it from exterior positions to ensure firefighter safety.

Key Developments

  • Containment - Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) confirmed the fire was contained overnight after an exterior attack using ladder and monitor pipes. No injuries were reported among emergency personnel or civilians.
  • Transit Impact - Light Rail service between Camp Road and North Avenue remains suspended through Wednesday morning. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has maintained a bus bridge between Falls Road and the Patapsco Light Rail Station, and numerous CityLink and LocalLink bus routes are operating on detours around the fire zone.
  • Investigation Underway - The Baltimore Police Department Arson Unit, BCFD Fire Investigation Unit, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are jointly probing the cause of the fire. Officials have not yet determined whether the blaze was accidental or deliberate.
  • Community Reaction - Nearby residents expressed concern over the number of vacant, deteriorating buildings in the area. Michael London Lewis, recalling the neighborhood’s former life as a Greyhound bus terminal, urged city leaders to remove unused structures before they pose public-safety hazards.

Background The fire broke out around 3:05 p.m. Tuesday in three adjacent, unoccupied buildings. Due to structural instability, BCFD commanders directed crews to fight the fire from outside, leveraging aerial ladder streams rather than interior attacks. At its peak, more than 175 firefighters from multiple jurisdictions battled the flames, with support from Anne Arundel County’s fire department and SkyTeam 11 aerial reconnaissance.

The incident underscores ongoing challenges with vacant properties in the city center. In recent months, Baltimore has seen multiple large-scale fires in abandoned buildings, raising concerns about maintenance, code enforcement, and potential arson.

Officials have not provided a timeline for reopening the Light Rail line. Commuters are advised to check the MTA website and local news outlets for updates on service restoration.