Three Baltimore City firefighters were killed Monday afternoon when a portion of the vacant building in which they were fighting a blaze collapsed, trapping them and a fourth firefighter underneath, the Baltimore Sun reports. The fourth firefighter is in critical condition.
The rowhouse, in the city’s New Southwest/Mount Clare neighborhood, is one of more than 16,000 vacant buildings in the city of Baltimore. It had been inspected earlier this year and found to be secure and sound, meaning there was no apparent structural dangers and the house was boarded up securely. This same property was the scene of a 2015 fire that injured three firefighters.
The dead include Lt. Paul Butrim, firefighter/paramedic Kelsey Sadler, and EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo. EMT/firefighter John McMaster remains in the hospital. “Baltimore owes them the deepest gratitude and respect,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said in a statement.