A fire today destroyed at least five stores and forced the evacuation of several others in Edmondson Village in Baltimore City, a 51-year-old community centerpiece on Baltimore National Pike trumpeted as the city’s first large strip mall.
The dramatic four-alarm blaze began about 9:15 a.m. in the Ashley Stewart Woman clothing store and quickly spread to an adjacent beauty supply and gift shop and hair salon.
A dozen stores were evacuated, said Battalion Chief Kevin Cartwright, city fire department spokesman.
No injuries were reported, but paramedics were spotted tending to a firefighter on a stretcher.
Cartwright said two live electrical poles on Swann Avenue collapsed, damaging wires and cutting power to signal lights along a portion of Edmondson Avenue.
“That caused unsafe conditions for our members inside while they were battling the fire, so we evacuated and continued to battle it externally,” Cartwright said.
Cartwright said it is too early to assess damages or speculate on the case.
Baltimore Gas & Electric was on the scene, along with about 40 fire and rescue vehicles.
Police were diverting traffic in both directions off Edmondson Avenue between Old Frederick Road and Athol Avenue.
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