Red Cross assisting 18 people displaced in fireThree people were hurt and several were rescued when a fire ignited at a Dundalk apartment complex in the middle of the night.
Shortly before midnight, Baltimore County fire crews responded to the Holabird East Apartments on Four Georges Court, where they found fire and smoke coming from a ground-level apartment.
Crews rescued 10 residents who were trapped on balconies. All total, the fire damaged 12 units and displaced 18 residents.
Three people were taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, one in serious condition.
Lee Salling, a friend of one of the injured victims, and his wife searched for anything that may have escaped the flames that engulfed an elderly friend's apartment. That man remained hospitalized Saturday night, still sedated after suffering burns and smoke inhalation.
"We're getting his pictures, whatever we can find of his and try to salvage what we can," Salling said. "He lost everything. I don't know what he's going to do. It's going to be devastating."
Another resident and a firefighter were also hospitalized. Both of them are expected to survive.
Officials said smoke detectors helped alert residents to the fire. The cause is under investigation.
Despite all the commotion, rescue crews were able to save several family pets also trapped inside.
"I ran up to a fireman and told him there was a dog in the apartment and a cat, and they rushed in and kicked the door in and Mumbles ran out and ran behind the building because he was so scared," said Kathy Marcin, a witness.
Mumbles is back with his owner but for everyone in the building, it will be a long time before they can return home. For many, belongings that weren't burned still have extensive smoke and water damage.
"It's just gone. I just can't believe everything the man has saved and everything he's got is gone. It's gone, it's all gone, it's horrifying," Salling said.
The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.
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