The Fire Goes Out

As the morning rose, the fire approached Pratt and Light Street Piers. The fire fighters, from Philadelphia, were finally able to halt the fire from spreading farther south, saving Federal Hill and South Baltimore.

The fire was still spreading to the East. Steam Fire Engines lined spread along the water front. Firemen were dangerously driven back. At times they were surrounded by fire as they tried to retreat to safety. Luckily, all firemen reached safety unharmed.


Steam Fire Engine, taken from the Maryland Historical Society

As of 8 AM, all hope of saving East Baltimore, the wharfs, and ports were ablaze.


Map taken from the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Baltimore’s Last Stand was going to be at the Jones Falls. The majority of the 2,000 firemen and National Guard members stood to stop the fire. Nine engines from New York and two from Wilmington were placed on the east side of the Jones Falls. A total of 37 engines took in water and fought to keep the fire at bay. Finally, around 3 pm, the majority of the fire was out. The fire was out but for weeks its ashes were still smoldering.