1-27-2022
Firefighter McMaster has been released from Shock Trauma.  He will head home to continue his recovery.

FFPM Sadler, by orders of Chief Niles Ford, PhD., is being posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Sadler was working as the Acting Lieutenant of Engine Company 14 during the call.

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On Monday, January 24, 2022, the Baltimore City Fire Department saw its darkest day since the 1950's.  Three of our members, Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey Sadler, Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth Lacayo, and L-964 member Lieutenant Paul Butrim, were killed, and another, Firefighter/EMT John McMaster seriously injured, battling a house fire with reports of people trapped in Southwest Baltimore.

At 5:53 AM, Fire Communications Bureau Dispatchers alerted a one-alarm assignment to the 200 block of South Stricker Street in the New Southwest/Mount Clare neighborhood.  While responding, information was relayed to responding units that there were reports of people trapped inside the home.  Within 3 minutes, Engine Company 14, commanded by Sadler as the Acting Lieutenant, reported fire showing from the second and third floors of a 3-story, middle of the group, row home.  An aggressive attack began, which included the firefighters taking the hose inside the home to extinguish the fire.  Truck Company 23 arrived and Lt. Butrim entered with the crew from E-14 to begin searching for the trapped victims.  Shortly after the crews were inside, there was a collapse.  A "MAYDAY" was called by the Incident Commander.  The fire was beginning to spread to the adjoining homes, so a second alarm was called to help battle that. As the rapid intervention team, the crew of firefighters tasked with rescuing trapped firefighters at a fire, began to search the debris for the crews, it was determined that more help would be needed. The Special Operations Command - Special Rescue Operations Team was activated. They brought specialized equipment and highly trained personnel to assist in rescuing the trapped firefighters.

Unfortunately, only McMaster survived his injuries.  Sadler and Lacayo were transported to Shock Trauma, where they succumbed to their injuries.  Butrim was pronounced dead at the scene.

In this difficult time, we ask that you think of the families and friends of our heroes, the members of the BCFD, and the Citizens of Baltimore.  This tragedy affects us all.  The members of the BCFD will honor the legacies of our heroes by continuing to answer the calls from our community.

A GoFundMe account has been set up. The funds raised will be distributed equally to the families of each of the fallen heroes and to FF McMaster. Here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-our-injured-and-fallen-heroes-jan-24-2022