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'Great Baltimore Fire' Remembered On 111th Anniversary

BALTIMORE, Md.(WJZ) -- More than 100 years later. The Great Fire of 1904 drastically changed Baltimore City.

Ron Matz reports on the Maryland Historical Society exhibit which traces the tragedy.

More than 1,000 buildings downtown were burned to the ground and 140 acres in the city were destroyed. The devastation lasted two days. It's called the Great Baltimore Fire for a reason.

"At the time just imagine how terrifying this must have been. The whole city was in flame and a thousand buildings were lost," said Burt Kummerow, President and CEO of the Maryland Historical Society.

At the Maryland Historical Society, they're observing the fire's 111th anniversary and some amazing artifacts, including: a firefighter's helmet, charred spoons and a painting by an artist who was there.

Soon, a local artist David Brewster will look at the fire through modern eyes.

"We're looking forward to this new project in 2017. David Brewster will be doing a series of works that address contemporary topics in Baltimore and Maryland," said Alexandra Deutsch, Chief Curator of the Maryland Historical Society

Firefighters came from Washington, Philadelphia and New York City to help battle the flames. Adding to the problems--typical February Baltimore weather, with freezing temperatures and high winds.

"In those days when a fire started it was almost impossible to stop if it really got out of control because they didn't have the water pressure, they didn't have the manpower,"said Kummerow.

Miraculously, City Hall was spared. But memories of that dark day remain.

"To this day, it ranks as the third most significant fire in the history of our nation," said Deutsch.

Five deaths were indirectly linked to the fire, which was fought by more than 1,200 firefighters.

Although the exact cause isn't known, the fire was first reported in a building at Hopkins Place, not far from what is now known as the Royal Farms Arena.

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