A devastating fire that rapidly consumed multiple rowhouses in northwest Baltimore late Thursday afternoon resulted in the loss of one firefighter’s life and left four others injured, according to city officials.
The injured firefighters sustained varying degrees of burns and are currently receiving medical treatment, officials announced at a news conference held Thursday evening outside Baltimore’s Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical System.
In recent months, the Baltimore Fire Department has faced mounting controversy over its policies and training, particularly after three firefighters tragically lost their lives while battling a vacant rowhouse fire early last year. This led local officials to call for increased oversight of the agency, and the department’s previous leader resigned amid the turmoil.
James Wallace, who took office as Baltimore’s new fire chief earlier this month, stated that the blaze “appeared to rapidly grow in intensity” shortly after the firefighters arrived at the scene.
“Tonight, it is with a heavy heart that I must announce one member has tragically perished as a result of his injuries,” Wallace said, refraining from disclosing the firefighter’s name until notifying the next of kin.
The two-alarm fire ignited just before 4 p.m., according to officials. Footage from local television stations revealed several rowhouses engulfed in flames, with parts of the structures collapsing and billowing black smoke emanating from their windows and roofs.
As of now, no civilian injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Wallace mentioned that at least one of the buildings involved appeared to be occupied, and investigators have yet to determine the reason behind the rapid intensification of the fire.
“What I can tell you is, we attacked this fire like we attack many fires,” he stated.
Prior to the public confirmation of the firefighter’s death, dozens of first responders gathered outside the Baltimore hospital for a salute. Many later joined a Baltimore Fire Department ambulance in a solemn procession through downtown.
“Firefighters are our living superheroes, and we don’t expect to lose them,” Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby emphasized during the news conference. “It’s a reminder of what firefighters do on a regular basis to protect and serve our city.”
The fire that occurred in January 2022, claiming the lives of three firefighters, prompted increased scrutiny of Baltimore’s fire department, which often deals with perilous conditions when responding to fires in the city’s many vacant buildings.
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A report released months later highlighted several deficiencies that could have needlessly endangered firefighters when the three-story brick building collapsed. Among other issues, it revealed the absence of a program to notify firefighters about vacant and unsafe buildings before they entered.