Officials Investigating After String Of House Fires In Edmondson Village
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore city fire officials are investigating after a string of fires were reported in Edmondson Village early Monday.
"My mom yelled fire, the dog was barking, my initial reaction was to get everyone out of the house," said David Hendricks, who escaped one of the house fires.
Hendricks was visiting his mom when his family was jolted out of bed early Monday morning.
"I just heard a somewhat small explosion and then you heard flames," Hendricks said.
The first broke out around 1:50 a.m. on multiple streets in Southwest Baltimore including Lyndhurt Ave, Normandy, Wildwood Parkway, Mount Holly Street, Allendale Street and Franklin.
At this time the official count is six homes, four trash barrels and one car.
[WARNING: The video below is NSFW and has explicit language]
While police and City Fire said they don't know if the cases are all connected, City Police is investigating this as a possible arson case.
Eleven properties were affected:
- A home in the 500 block of Lyndhurst Avenue.
- A home in the 500 block of Normandy Avenue.
- A vehicle in the 500 block of Wildwood Parkway.
- A home in the 4100 block of W. Franklin Street.
- Trask in the 300 block of Lyndhurst Avenue.
- A home in the 600 block of Mount Holly Street
- A home in the 500 block of Mount Holly Street.
- Another home in the 500 block of Lyndhurst Avenue.
- Trash was set on fire in the 500 block of Allendale Street.
- More trash was set on fire in the 3700 block of W. Franklin Street.
- Trash in the 300 block of Mount Holly Street.
For many people who live on these streets, their homes have been in their family for generations.
"It's a lot of healing that needs to happen in the community," said Harold Diggs, community leader.
Neighbors said they've been trying to comfort the kids who live around the area, many who were affected by the sights and sounds of Monday's fires.
"You have families up and down this block. These reckless actions could have cost somebody their life," Hendricks said.
No one was injured in the fires and right now fire officials do not have a cause.
