Baltimore, Howard County Fight Blaze at Simkins Mill

Firefighters from Howard and Baltimore County responded to a fire in the old abandoned Simkins mill warehouse on River Road Sunday evening.

The first call came at 6:16 p.m. for fire in the roof. Crews responded to the old warehouse, which is located just past the intersection of Thistle and River Road near the Baltimore-Howard county line.

John Kuruc, a Baltimore County fire division chief out of the Westview Station, said when crews first responded there was fire showing on the roof of the old mill. The area does not have any hydrants, but water from the responding engines were able to pump enough water onto the fire.

The fire was out within 30 minutes. No injuries were reported and no one was in the building at the time.

Firefighters on the scene said the abandoned, dilapidated building has burned many times over the years. The property is littered trash and dumpsters on the property hold mattresses, furniture and other items. Graffitti artists have left their mark on the building as well, with many colorful paintings all over the building.

The building dates back to the 1820s and has been used to make cotton and fabric until it was converted to a paper mill in the late 1920s. It was purchased by Simkins Industries in the 1950s and was in use until 2003 when a fire severely damaged it.

When firefighters have responded over the years, they have also found evidence of homeless encampments inside the building, Kuruc said.