Investigation Begins Into Cause Of 3-Alarm Fire On Hanover Street

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A stubborn three-alarm fire destroyed homes and businesses is Baltimore overnight.

Mike Schuh has more.

Hanover Street and others nearby were closed down just after midnight Monday. One fire crew after another was called out as the blaze spread from building to building.

The flames ripped through the old wood buildings, growing to three alarms and 100 firefighters.

The whole row of five rowhomes and former businesses were on fire. The roofs are gone on all of them and nothing but the front wall is left on the two to the south.

The fire department says all of the buildings were vacant but there were two squatters living inside. They got out without injury.

No firefighters were injured.

Crews are still on the scene mopping up and making sure the flames don't reignite.

Arson investigators are trying to determine what happened---and why.