Investigators Probe Four-Alarm Fire at Woodlawn Concrete Restoration Firm

Towson, Md. (July 14, 2008) — Fire investigators continue to probe the cause of a massive four-alarm fire at Concrete Protection and Restoration Inc. in Woodlawn.

The fire occurred at 9:22 p.m. Friday; since then, investigators have been combing through debris at the fire scene, interviewing witnesses and examining photos and video for clues about what started the blaze.

Crews from the Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Co. arrived first to find heavy smoke showing and fire through the roof of the large CPR warehouse at 6730 White Stone Road, just off the Beltway near Martin’s West. The first arriving unit, Utility 333 from Woodlawn VFC, called for a second alarm almost immediately. Within about a half-hour, several large propane tanks at the facility exploded, creating a huge fireball.

The explosions and subsequent roof collapse made the building too unsafe for firefighters to enter. The rapidly deteriorating conditions forced fire crews to abandon their interior attack and fought the fire from the outside instead.

More than 50 pieces of equipment and 100 personnel responded to this fire, including units from BWI Airport, Baltimore City and Howard County. A medical strike team was dispatched at 11:02 p.m.

Two firefighters and one civilian suffered minor injuries.

Commanders placed the fire under control at 2:32 a.m.