A saddened city bid farewell Wednesday to three Baltimore firefighters killed battling a blaze in a vacant rowhouse last month, a tragedy that focused attention on the plague of aging houses and the valor of first responders who answer alarms.
Hundreds of firefighters from across the nation joined city and state leaders, family and friends of Lt. Paul Butrim, Lt. Kelsey Sadler and firefighter Kenny Lacayo for a service at the Baltimore Convention Center that began at 10 a.m. All three were killed on Jan. 24 when a rowhouse in Southwest Baltimore collapsed with them inside.
For the first time ever in its 225 year history, the entire Baltimore City Fire Department went out of service so members could attend the service. In a powerful display of professional cooperation, every station and shift was covered by units and staff from neighboring jurisdictions such as Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Annapolis.
That mutual aid was immediately put to the test. Outside agencies helped control blazes at 1303 Clearview Ave. in East Baltimore, and on Cliftview Ave. in Northeast Baltimore on Wednesday morning.
Speakers inside the Convention Center service included Gov. Larry Hogan and Mayor Brandon Scott.
Colleagues praised the selflessness of Butrim, Sadler and Lacayo, as they executed a rescue attempt for which they were well-trained.
“They were told that somebody — some resident of West Baltimore that they had never met — was in danger of dying,” said Edward Kelly, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters. “And they decided that somebody was worth dying for.”
Following the ceremony, a long caravan transported the fallen fighters to Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Lutherville-Timonium,, shutting down Interstate 83 and I-695 in the middle of the day.
Dulaney Valley is the home to annual fallen heroes memorials, and the burial site for many police and firefighters in the region.
