United States (Maryland) - A three-alarm fire gutted a three-story brick building of offices and apartments in Mount Vernon early Thursday morning, according to the Baltimore Fire Department. No injuries were reported in the blaze, which burned through what were believed to be first-story offices and second- and third-story apartments in the building near the intersection of North Calvert and East Read streets, the fire department said.

Firefighters responded to the building about 12:45 a.m. and found heavy flames coming from all three stories of the building, which is at the end of a commercial row, the department said.

Firefighters entered the building but were forced to evacuate because of unsafe conditions, instead beginning an attack on the flames from outside, the department said.

The flames continued to burn, and caused a partial collapse of the building's roof before the fire was brought under control just before 2:30 a.m., the department said.

No one was believed to be in the building at the time of the fire, and no injuries to residents or firefighters were reported, the department said.

Fire investigators are continuing to look for a cause.

Written by The Baltimore Sun

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