Heavy Smoke And Flames Engulf SW Baltimore Warehouse 3-Alarm Fire

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A warehouse burns in Baltimore for hours and mother nature made it that much harder for firefighters.

Every few minutes, it seems as if they've got it under control and then it flares up again. It started a little bit before 4:00 p.m. Monday afternoon. Crews have been here on the scene trying to get it under control. Because it's been so windy all day into the afternoon, that's proving to be an issue.

WJZ spoke with the fire chief and he said the wind is making it that much more difficult to get this under control, but they are prepared to stay out here as long as it takes.

"The weather is a big factor with us right now with the high winds. This is an exterior operation and we have a lot of pipes in service. Basically, we are not getting a direct stream to go down into the building, trying to hit the seed of the fire itself, due to the fact that the wind is just blowing the streamlines off course," says Baltimore City Fire Chief Roman Clark.

This is a vacant warehouse on Frederick Avenue and South Smallwood. Fire crews say they do not believe anyone is inside at this point.

The fire chief said because it's been so windy they have been watching to be sure there are no embers flying around to affect other homes in the area. They are asking people to close their doors and windows to prohibit the smoke from entering their homes.

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