Three firefighters dead, one critical in devastating Baltimore City rowhouse fire, building collapse
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan ordered State flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of three Baltimore City Firefighters who lost their lives yesterday when a vacant city rowhouse caught fire – but then collapsed – trapping the firefighters inside. The fire started inside the building around 6 a.m. in the 200 block of South Stricker Street. Around 11:45 a.m., while crew members were on the scene and inside the building fighting the fire, the building partially collapsed, trapping several of the firfighters.
Reportedly, the firefighters radioed for a “Mayday” after being trapped early Monday morning.
Late last night, the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) posted the haunting message that, “Lt. Paul Butrim, Firefighter Kelsey Sadler and Firefighter Kenny Lacayo lost their lives in service to our city. Firefighter John McMaster remains in the hospital in critical but stable condition. We will continue to pray for the family of those we lost.”
McMaster remains in critical but stable condition, officials said. “He’s on life support, he’s up in the intensive care unit. He has injuries that sometimes get worse before they get better. We are keeping a very, very close eye on him. Fingers crossed that he’s going to make it,” said Dr. Thomas Scalea, physician-in-chief at Shock Trauma. ~ WBAL-TV
There’s no word yet on the cause of the blaze, which remains under investigation.
In a statement shared by Fox News in Baltimore, Baltimore City Fire Department Chief Niles Ford said: “Every day our Firefighters, our first responders put their lives on the line for the sake of others. Today, three Firefighters lost their lives in service to our city, and another remains in critical condition. From this moment, we will honor those we lost today, for their bravery, their courage, their love for helping others and the respect they had for the Baltimore City Fire Department.”
For more on the devastating fire in Baltimore that claimed the lives of heroic firefighters Paul Butrim, Kelsey Sadler and Kenny Lacayo, see the video accompanying this article.
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
