Beltsville 2-Alarm Warehouse Fire With Explosions

United States (Maryland) - Firefighters encountered more then heavy smoke and fire at a Beltsville warehouse fire. Fire/EMS units were dispatched to Precision Cycle Works, 11323 Old Baltimore Pike, Beltsville, Maryland, for 911 reports of an explosion and fire at about 1:45 PM, Thursday, April 8, 2010. First arriving firefighters from Beltsville Fire/EMS Station 831 and Greenbelt Fire/EMS Station 835 were the first to arrive and observed heavy smoke from the roof area, towards the rear of the structure, of a 1-story brick, middle of the row, commercial warehouse. These units established a water supply and entered the structure with charged hoselines in attempts to extinguish the fire. Firefighters were updated that there was a quantity of handgun ammunition and re-loading supplies in the area where the initial explosion occurred. There were rapid and continuous sounds of the ammunition discharging and larger sounds of explosions with percussions felt by everyone inside or near the structure. A 360 exterior examination of the structure revealed bulging of the front garage door and rear wall, as well as, the roof assembly displayed signs that it had shifted. All of these observations indicated that a significant explosion had occurred. With heavy blinding smoke on the interior and a maze of walls and obstacles, firefighters could not immediately locate the seat of the fire. Coupled with inherent dangers of a fire in a large automotive repair warehouse and the report of the structural instability of the structure; incident commanders ordered the evacuation of all firefighters. SOURCE: Firfighting News