WINDSOR MILL, Md. (WJZ) — A three-alarm fire in Baltimore County left more than two dozen families displaced Tuesday, officials said.
The fire broke out at the Tuscany Gardens Apartments in the unit block of Springridge Court near Windsor Mill just after 11:45 a.m. When firefighters got to the scene, they found flames on both the second and third floors.
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Chopper 13 was over the scene as firefighters battled the blaze. Flames were visible from above as crews worked to put out the fire.
Fire officials tweeted the blaze was extinguished shortly after 1:30 p.m.
The weather made battling the fire even more difficult.
“There were a couple of challenges initially with this fire, one being that some of the hydrants in the area had frozen because of the cold weather temperatures,” said Baltimore County Fire Director Tim Rostkowski.
In total, 27 families were displaced and 30 units are uninhabitable, officials said Tuesday evening.
READ MORE: Baltimore City Schools To Offer Weekly COVID-19 Testing For Students, StaffMore info from @BaltCoFire about the three-alarm apartment fire in Windsor Mill: 27 families displaced, all 30 units in the apartments are uninhabitable and the Red Cross is on scene. The cause is under investigation @wjz
— Stetson Miller (@stetsonmreports) February 2, 2021
The American Red Cross is helping those affected.
The Baltimore County Fire Department says multiple families are displaced after a 3-alarm fire burned 5 apartment buildings on Springridge Court in Windsor Mill. No injuries reported. @wjz pic.twitter.com/AoJQSpOWDc
— Stetson Miller (@stetsonmreports) February 2, 2021
Charon Thompson was working from home with her son when the fire broke out.
“When I seen all them flames, I was like, ‘Oh, we got to get out of here,'” she said.
Joe Stark rushed over from his home nearby in Woodlawn when he heard about the fire. His daughter and her son live in the complex.
“We had just gotten a call, so now we have her at the hospital for smoke inhalation,” he said.
Stark said he’s just grateful they’re doing okay.
“(I’m) just glad I didn’t have to go in there and save her, you know, that’s the main thing so that’s a blessing. The material things really don’t matter,” he said.
It’s unclear what caused the fire, but it appears to have spread across a shared attic, damaging five connected buildings.
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