Explosive Situation at Warehouse Fire

Flames fueled by chemicals, ammunition

Explosions inside a warehouse forced firefighters to evacuate as they battled a two-alarm fire at 11323 Old Baltimore Pike in Beltsville, Md.

The fire started just before 2pm Thursday, at a custom motorcycle shop called Precision Cycle Works.

The shops owner is also a licensed firearms dealer and had stored ammunition on site.

Firefighters said they arrived to find heavy smoke pouring out of the shop, and were inside fighting the fire when  the situation got dangerous.

"It didn't work out," said Mark Brady with the Prince George's County Fire Department. "There continued to be explosions inside, ammunition going off, so we had to withdraw."

Firefighters fought the blaze from outside, and by 4pm, had put most of it out.

There were no reported injuries, Brady said.  The cause is still under investigation, and preliminary fire loss is estimated at $1 million. 

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