By Racquel Bazos
Baltimore Sun
BALTIMORE — Investigators say there were possible signs of “illegal occupant activity” in the vacant building where last Friday’s Auchentoroly Terrace fire in West Baltimore began, the Baltimore City Fire Department said Monday.
The fire on the 2200 block of North Fulton Avenue began in a vacant building and, aided by strong winds, damaged 15 buildings and required over 100 emergency personnel to control. Although the department is continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, “early indications suggest possible illegal occupant activity in the building where the fire originated,” it said in a news release.
John Marsh, spokesperson for the department, clarified that “illegal occupant activity” referred to occupants not permitted to be inside the vacant building. It remains unknown whether any of the alleged possible occupants’ activities were illegal, he said.
“Preliminary findings suggest that unauthorized individuals may have been present in the structure before the fire broke out,” said Fire Chief James Wallace in a statement.
“Our investigators, in coordination with local authorities, are working diligently to determine the exact circumstances and whether any criminal activity played a role.”
The department has not yet determined whether the cause of the fire was malicious or not, Marsh said. No one was reported injured in the fire.
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