It was early morning on Monday when firefighters from Baltimore arrived at a derelict house to put out a fire. Unfortunately, firefighters got trapped inside the building when it collapsed on top of them. Three firefighters were killed in the accident, while a fourth was injured. The three-story rowhome was located on Stricker Street, and when it collapsed, the firefighters were trapped inside, and their lives were lost.
The victims were Lieutenant Paul Butrim, firefighter and paramedic Kelsey Sadler, and EMT and firefighter Kenny Lacayo. The survivor of the accident was firefighter John McMaster. He was pulled from the wreckage and was immediately brought to the emergency room, where he remains in critical condition. As of Monday, he was still on life support, clinging to the edge of survival.
“Fingers crossed that he’s going to make it and be just fine. It’s hard to know at this point,” Dr. Thomas Scalea, of Maryland Shock Trauma, told the Associated Press.
At a news conference following the tragedy, Chief Niles R. Ford confirmed that one firefighter was declared dead at the scene. The other two were pulled from the collapsed home and were rushed to the hospital but could not be revived.
“Today, Baltimore has lost three of the bravest among us. Baltimore owes them the deepest gratitude and respect that we can offer anybody,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said.