Warehouse Fire Update

This post is an update on last night’s warehouse fire near I-95 and U.S. 1 in Violetville.

Firefighters are still on the scene pouring water on the fire since it is still smoldering. I personally noticed a strong smell of something burning around the intersection of I-95 and I-695 in that area on my commute this morning although I couldn’t make out smoke (as Beltway drivers did last night) because of all the cloud cover. Two firefighters were injured. A Howard County firefighter hurt his knee and a Baltimore County firefighter came down with heat exhaustion. As of yet, no cause of the fire has been determined.

The fire started in a smaller building and then spread to the larger warehouse on the same property. A small brush fire also started and was put out and there were explosions. The fire is expected to smolder until this afternoon.

The warehouse belonged to Wollenweber’s Trucking and Warehousing, which donated space to the Casey Cares Foundation. Area residents may notice a drop in water pressure today since firefighters had to extend their hoses out several blocks to get to larger water mains since the ones near the warehouse were only 6-8 inches. Soot and ash covered cars in the area and a white substance is in the water running off. MDE officials have been called in to look at the substance in the water.

Part of the Casey Cares Foundation statement issued about the fire says:
“We are in desperate need of office space, office equipment, computers and monetary donations.”

Donation information is also on the foundation site:
Please call Casey Baynes, Executive Director at 443-506-6306 for all office related contributions. Please send all checks made out to the Casey Cares Foundation, c/o 5-D Gwynns Mills Court, Owings Mills, MD 21117.