Fire Damages Building In Downtown Frederick

The flames and smoke from the fire were evident throughout the immediate vicinity.Photos from Frederick County Fire & Rescue ServicesFrederick, Md (KM) A fire damaged  a building in downtown Frederick Saturday afternoon.Chief of Frederick County Fire and Rescue Services, Tom Coe, says the call went out at around 3:42 PM to 111 South Carroll Street for a building fire. “Units arrived within two minutes to find smoke emanating from the building.  Units initiated a very aggressive fire attack and search for any occupants. No occupants were found in the building, and all of the residents were accounted for, ” he says.Chief Coe says the fire went to three alarms with apparatus and personnel coming in from all across Frederick County, and some from Montgomery County. “The fire grew and the mode of fire department operations grew to what we call a defensive attack where hose streams are applied to the fire from the exterior of the building. The fire was placed under control at 5:00 this evening,” Coe says.There were 60 pieces of apparatus at the scene, and about 120 fire fighters, he says.Chief Coe also says the fire spread from 111 South Carroll Street to 124 South Carroll Street. There was minor fire extension into a building in the rear. “But that fire was quickly contained,” says Chief Coe.Two fire fighters suffered minor injuries, but  did not require any transport to the hospital.The building at 111 South Carroll Street was a “mixed use occupancy,” says Coe. “There was an antique store at one time.  It was used for antique storage, and there was an apartment within the building.”The cause of the fire remains under investigation.The fire could be seen in the immediate vicinity of 111 South Carroll Street, and smoke was evident in the area  surrounding the building on fire.Frederick  Mayor Michael O’Connor was at the scene. “We’re enormously appreciative of the quick response from the Division of Fire and Rescue, our Police Department and some personnel from DPW (Division of Public Works} in Frederick helping with traffic control,” he said. ‘It’s one of the challenges in a city that’s got old buildings, the rapid response from fire crews means a lot.”By Kevin McManus