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ATF to investigate warehouse fire in South Baltimore

Posted at 5:30 PM, Sep 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-28 17:37:55-04

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Baltimore Field Division requested the activation of ATF's National Response Team to join the investigation into a warehouse fire in South Baltimore.

The fire was at Whitehouse and Schapiro, LLC, at 1026 Patapsco Avenue on September 25.

"The ATF will make available all of our specialized resources as we work hand-in-hand with our state and local counterparts in Baltimore to help determine the origin and cause of the fire," said ATF's Baltimore Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr. 

The fire destroyed the warehouse space.

The primary mission of ATF's NRT is to concentrate ATF explosives and fire investigative resources and expertise on large-scale incidents, or on more complex investigations due to the size, scope or number of victims as a result of the incident.

Agents from ATF's Baltimore Field Division Arson and Explosives Group have been on scene since the fire started, assisting with the ongoing investigation.

Past NRT activations in Maryland include incidents such as the 2016 explosion at an apartment complex in Silver Spring which resulted in the death of 7 individuals; the 2015 residential fire at a mansion in Annapolis which resulted in the death of 4 children and their grandparents; and the 2015 fires that were set in the wake of civil unrest throughout Baltimore.