Gov. Hogan Presents Memorial Citations In Honor Of Baltimore's 3 Fallen Firefighters
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Gov. Larry Hogan presented memorial citations at two Baltimore fire stations Monday afternoon in honor of three firefighters who died after part of a burning house collapsed on them.
Firefighters Lt. Paul Butrim, Lt. Kelsey Sadler, and Kenny Lacayo were fatally injured while battling a fire at a vacant house in the 200 block of South Stricker Street.
Sadler and Lacayo belonged to Engine Company 14, which is located in the 1900 block of Hollins Street. Butrim was a member of Truck Company 23, which is located in the 1200 block of Bush Street.
Hogan presented the first memorial citation at the fire station on Bush Street, and then presented the second memorial citation at the fire station on Bush Street.
"I said to them, 'I think it's important that we all appreciate the people that put their lives on the line for the rest of us every day, but sometimes we don't always show it until it takes a tragedy like this,'" Hogan said. "Now they are learning how much people appreciate them. It shouldn't take losing three firefighters before we all tell them that."
The three firefighters went inside of the vacant house while it was on fire in the early hours of Jan. 24 because they had received a report of people trapped inside of it.
During the governor's visit to Engine Company 14, firefighter John McMaster was also present. McMaster was a fourth firefighter injured during the collapse, and doctors said he was on life support.
However, he was able to recover enough to be released three days later. The governor also honored McMaster.
"I got a chance to give him a couple of hugs in here, and give him a Governor's coin," Hogan said.
The Baltimore division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spent days after the deadly fire investigating the events leading up to it. They announced on Friday that it was seeking a person of interest in connection with the fire.
The agency released two images of the person taken from surveillance footage. An initial reward of $20,000 was announced for information leading to the identification of the person.
That reward increased to $100,000 as Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Baltimore Fire Officers IAFF Local 964, Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734, and Hogan pledged to add thousands of dollars to the money pot.
"The families and the community deserve that closure and we want anybody that has information to come forward," Scott told WJZ. "This money means that we value the lives of our first responders, of our heroes, that literally gave the ultimate sacrifices for our city."
In addition to identifying the person of interest, investigators are also looking for any pictures or videos of the fire people may have. Those can be submitted via ATFtips@atf.gov
