United States (Maryland) - A firefighter was injured battling a two-alarm fire at a debris-filled, single-family home in Northwest Baltimore on Monday morning when he fell through a floor into the home's basement, according to the Baltimore Fire Department. Firefighters responded just before 9 a.m. to the home in the 4200 block of Groveland Avenue, in the city's West Arlington neighborhood, and found heavy smoke, said Chief Kevin Cartwright, a department spokesman.

When firefighters entered the home, they determined the fire had originated in the basement but had "extended into the walls" and was traveling into the first and second floors as well, Cartwright said.

One firefighter, while fighting the flames, fell through the flooring of the first floor into the basement, sustaining a non-life-threatening laceration across his nose, Cartwright said. The firefighter was transported to Mercy Medical Center's Public Safety Infirmary.

The fire was brought under control about 9:45 a.m., Cartwright said.

The home had "a lot of debris inside" and it was unclear whether anyone was living there, Cartwright said.

Douglas Lent, a spokesman for the American Red Cross, said one person was displaced and is being assisted by Red Cross volunteers.

Written by The Baltimore Sun

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