Baltimore is reeling from a heart-wrenching tragedy that claimed the lives of three courageous firefighters and left another battling for survival after they became trapped in a fierce blaze inside a vacant home on Monday. The incident is now remembered as one of the deadliest firefighter tragedies in the city’s recent history.
The firefighters were responding to a rowhouse in the New Southwest/Mount Clare neighborhood when the structure partially collapsed. Two were pronounced dead at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center: Lt. Paul Butrim, firefighter/paramedic Kelsey Sadler, and EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo. EMT/firefighter John McMaster remains hospitalized, fighting for his life. Together, these heroes contributed 44 years of service to the department, making their loss all the more poignant.