A 5-alarm fire engulfed the 400 block of West Lombard Street in Baltimore city on Sunday morning, drawing the attention of city fire officials. The fire department swiftly responded to the incident near the intersection of Lombard and Eutaw streets around 9:26 a.m., upon receiving reports of a building fire. Initially classified as a 2-alarm fire due to heavy smoke emanating from the building, the fire escalated in intensity, prompting authorities to elevate it to a 5-alarm status by 10 a.m., ensuring the allocation of adequate resources to combat the blaze.

During a press conference, Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace revealed that the fire had spread to involve up to 5 commercial properties and one residential occupancy in the vicinity. However, he assured that there were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters as of the current moment. While the fire has been contained, it remains uncontrolled, posing ongoing challenges for the fire department in managing the situation effectively.

As a result of the fire at Howard and Lombard Streets, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced the suspension of Light Rail services in the Central Business District, adding to the disruption caused by the incident. This development has raised concerns for the Baltimore Orioles, who are scheduled to face off against the Detroit Tigers at 1:35 p.m. Orioles management has been working closely with Baltimore City officials, the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Transit Administration to address traffic implications in light of the fire at S. Lombard St. and Eutaw St. Acknowledging the potential traffic congestion in the downtown area, fans are advised to exercise caution and allow for extra travel time if attending this afternoon's game within the affected grid from Paca St. to Eutaw St. and Pratt St. to Baltimore St.