Monday's fatal fire in southwest Baltimore shocked the city fire department and fire departments across the country as an investigation gets underway. This investigation is personal for the federal, state and Baltimore City agents investigating the origin and cause of Monday's fire at a vacant rowhouse."It is a tragic loss for all of us because we are family and we lost a lot of family yesterday," Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci said. "There's a lot of damage to the structure. We may not be able to determine a cause."City fire officials said the fire started around 6 a.m. and the building partially collapsed, trapping four firefighters inside. Three fire service members died, and a fourth remains hospitalized at Shock Trauma."We are all heartbroken," Geraci said.Investigators went door to door in the neighborhood, searching for surveillance video that may help them figure out who entered and left the building. A specialized crew from Montgomery County shored up the structure so investigators could safely dig through the rubble."We know there is no power to the building. We know there is no electric in the building. So, those types of sources have been ruled out," Geraci said.Investigators are also looking into a 2015 fire at the same location that left three firefighters injured. Investigators are looking for comparisons.Sister station WBAL looked into who owns the vacant home and learned the property owners now live in Pennsylvania.One of their relatives, Jeffery Shore, said: "It's sad three people lost their life because the city didn't do their job keeping squatters away. My relatives shouldn't have left the property abandoned." "There must be a plan in place moving forward to prevent this from happening again," Geraci said.City hall officials said the building will be torn down after the property is released from the investigation.Baltimore City Fire Department spokeswoman Blair Adams said there is no policy in place regarding entering a known abandoned building to fight a fire, but she said there is always room for improvement.Injured firefighter's condition improvesFire officials updated the condition of the fourth Baltimore firefighter injured in Monday's fire and collapse at a vacant row home.EMT/Firefighter John McMaster has been upgraded to fair condition and he is conscious and alert at Shock Trauma, Baltimore Fire Chief Niles Ford said. Ford visited McMaster Tuesday."He was able to speak and we were able to talk to him. We prayed with him and we're very optimistic about his condition and him getting out of the hospital soon," Ford said.A city mourns: Remembering Baltimore's bravest Lt. Paul Butrim had been with the Baltimore Fire Department for more than 16 years. He started in 2005 as a firefighter and paramedic apprentice.Firefighter/Paramedic Kenny Lacayo had been with the Baltimore Fire Department for seven years. He also worked with the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad in Montgomery County, where he was named paramedic of the year in 2016.Lacayo's father was overcome with grief while speaking about his son."I would like my son to be remembered as a son of a proud father, loving and caring, loved his community and the reason I say that is because he liked to help people," his father said.Wheaton's Fire Chief Mark Dempsey also said Lacayo was a rising star in the Baltimore City Fire Department."He came to the rescue squad shortly after graduation and he flourished there. He became a firefighter became a paramedic was awarded paramedic of the year," Dempsey said.Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey Sadler had been with the Baltimore Fire Department for 15 years. She was in the same recruit class as a firefighter and paramedic trainee who died in a training accident in 2007. The recruits in that class were given the opportunity to leave; Sadler decided to continue on with her career.Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordered flags across the state to be lowered to half-staff to honor Butrim, Sadler and Lacayo.Watch the video above for the full story.
Monday's fatal fire in southwest Baltimore shocked the city fire department and fire departments across the country as an investigation gets underway.
This investigation is personal for the federal, state and Baltimore City agents investigating the origin and cause of Monday's fire at a vacant rowhouse.
"It is a tragic loss for all of us because we are family and we lost a lot of family yesterday," Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci said. "There's a lot of damage to the structure. We may not be able to determine a cause."
City fire officials said the fire started around 6 a.m. and the building partially collapsed, trapping four firefighters inside. Three fire service members died, and a fourth remains hospitalized at Shock Trauma.
"We are all heartbroken," Geraci said.
Investigators went door to door in the neighborhood, searching for surveillance video that may help them figure out who entered and left the building. A specialized crew from Montgomery County shored up the structure so investigators could safely dig through the rubble.
"We know there is no power to the building. We know there is no electric in the building. So, those types of sources have been ruled out," Geraci said.
Investigators are also looking into a 2015 fire at the same location that left three firefighters injured. Investigators are looking for comparisons.
Sister station WBAL looked into who owns the vacant home and learned the property owners now live in Pennsylvania.
One of their relatives, Jeffery Shore, said: "It's sad three people lost their life because the city didn't do their job keeping squatters away. My relatives shouldn't have left the property abandoned."
"There must be a plan in place moving forward to prevent this from happening again," Geraci said.
City hall officials said the building will be torn down after the property is released from the investigation.
Baltimore City Fire Department spokeswoman Blair Adams said there is no policy in place regarding entering a known abandoned building to fight a fire, but she said there is always room for improvement.
Injured firefighter's condition improves
Fire officials updated the condition of the fourth Baltimore firefighter injured in Monday's fire and collapse at a vacant row home.
EMT/Firefighter John McMaster has been upgraded to fair condition and he is conscious and alert at Shock Trauma, Baltimore Fire Chief Niles Ford said.
Ford visited McMaster Tuesday.
"He was able to speak and we were able to talk to him. We prayed with him and we're very optimistic about his condition and him getting out of the hospital soon," Ford said.
A city mourns: Remembering Baltimore's bravest
Lt. Paul Butrim had been with the Baltimore Fire Department for more than 16 years. He started in 2005 as a firefighter and paramedic apprentice.
Firefighter/Paramedic Kenny Lacayo had been with the Baltimore Fire Department for seven years. He also worked with the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad in Montgomery County, where he was named paramedic of the year in 2016.
Lacayo's father was overcome with grief while speaking about his son.
"I would like my son to be remembered as a son of a proud father, loving and caring, loved his community and the reason I say that is because he liked to help people," his father said.
Wheaton's Fire Chief Mark Dempsey also said Lacayo was a rising star in the Baltimore City Fire Department.
"He came to the rescue squad shortly after graduation and he flourished there. He became a firefighter became a paramedic was awarded paramedic of the year," Dempsey said.
Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey Sadler had been with the Baltimore Fire Department for 15 years. She was in the same recruit class as a firefighter and paramedic trainee who died in a training accident in 2007. The recruits in that class were given the opportunity to leave; Sadler decided to continue on with her career.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordered flags across the state to be lowered to half-staff to honor Butrim, Sadler and Lacayo.
Watch the video above for the full story.
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