Baltimore City Fire Department

Baltimore, Maryland - Wednesday, January 2, 2013 - Baltimore City Firefighters responded to the scene of a two alarm fire in the 3000 block of Montebello Terrace. Upon arrival companies found a one and a half story occupied wood frame dwelling fully involved with fire.

Companies established a water supply and made an initial attack on the fire. Due to the intensity of the fire and unsafe conditions that it presented the incident commander ordered an immediate evacuation. A second alarm assignment was requested to provide additional manpower and resources. With reports of people trapped, firefighters made a secondary entry performing a primary and secondary search of the dwelling when they located the body of an expired victim. At present, no identification has been made on the expired victim.

It was determined that the home was occupied by seven adults including one pregnant woman. Five victims were able to escape with non-life threatening injuries. Three patients were evaluated at the scene and transported to area hospitals for evaluation of non-life threatening injuries. Although seven occupants were reported to be inside the home when the fire broke out, no additional victims were found inside the home.

Fire investigators and police arson detectives are presently on the scene awaiting entry to perform a preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire and verify whether or not the home had working smoke alarms. It was preliminarily reported that a Baltimore Police Officer rescued a victim from the basement of the dwelling fire; however those details are being investigated.

The fire was dispatched at 11:39 p.m. and was placed under control at 12:57 a.m. There were no reported injuries to firefighters.

Citizens are reminded to call 311 to request a free smoke alarm. Firefighters will come to your home within two hours to install ten year lithium tamper resistant smoke alarms to assure the safety of you and your family.

As the winter months are upon us, the Baltimore City Fire Department would like to remind everyone to have your home heating appliances such as your furnaces, hot water heater and other fuel-burning appliances in the home inspected by an authorized utility company to prevent the serious hazards of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless and toxic gas, and is often referred to as the “silent killer.” When inhaled, it inhibits the blood’s capacity to transport oxygen throughout the body. It can poison the body quickly in high concentrations, or slowly over long periods of time.

What are symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness and even loss of consciousness. In severe cases, CO poisoning can cause brain damage and death. The elderly, children and people with heart or respiratory conditions may be particularly sensitive to CO.

How is carbon monoxide generated in the home?

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of incomplete combustion of fuel such as natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal, gasoline or wood. This incomplete combustion can occur in any device that depends on burning for energy or heat, such as furnaces, room heaters, fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves or grills and any gas powered vehicle or engine. Automobiles left running in attached garages, gas barbecues grills operated inside the house, or kerosene heaters that are not properly vented, or chimneys or vents that are dirty or plugged may create unsafe levels of CO.

When properly installed, maintained and vented, any CO produced by these devices will not stay inside the home.

What are some danger signs?

• You or other members of your family have symptoms of CO exposure (see above).
• You notice a sharp, penetrating odor or smell of gas when your furnace or other fuel-burning equipment turns on.
• The air is stale or stuffy.
• The pilot light of your furnace or other fuel-burning equipment goes out.
• Chalky white powder forms on the chimney/exhaust vent pipe or soot build-up occurs around the exhaust vent.

Carbon monoxide detectors monitor airborne concentration levels (parts per million) of carbon monoxide and sound an audible alarm when harmful CO levels are present.

If you suspect carbon monoxide in your home…

If you or anyone else in your home is experiencing the symptoms of CO poisoning, ensure that everyone leaves the home immediately, leaving the door open. Call your local fire department or 911 from a neighbor’s telephone.

If your CO detector sounds do NOT assume it to be a false alarm. Open all doors and windows to ventilate the home. If you cannot find the problem and the alarm continues, contact the fire department. If there is a strong smell of natural gas in your home, evacuate immediately, leaving the door open and contact your local gas utility company.

If no symptoms are experienced, reset the detector and check to see if the alarm activates. If the detector sounds a second time, call the local fire department for their assistance.

If the detector does not sound a second time, check for common conditions that may have caused a CO build-up (see the accompanying illustration) or contact a qualified heating contractor to check your fuel-burning equipment.

Where should a carbon monoxide detector be located in the home?

Proper placement of a CO detector is important. In general, the human body is most vulnerable to the effects of CO during sleeping hours, so a detector should be located in or as near as possible to the sleeping area of the home.

If only one detector is being installed, it should be located near the sleeping area, where it can wake you if you are asleep.

Where sleeping areas are located in separate parts of the home, a detector should be provided for each area.

Additional CO detectors should be placed on each level of a residence and in other rooms where combustion devices are located (such as in a room that contains a solid fuel-fired appliance, gas clothes dryer or natural gas furnace), or adjacent to potential sources of CO (such as in a teenager’s room or granny suite located adjacent to an attached garage.)

Unlike smoke, which rises to the ceiling, CO mixes with air. Recognizing this, a CO detector should be located at knee height (which is about the same as prone sleeping height). Due to the possibility of tampering or damage by pets, children, vacuum cleaners and the like, it may be located up to chest height. To work properly, a detector should not be blocked by furniture, draperies or other obstructions to normal air flow.

If a combination smoke/carbon monoxide detector is used, it should be located on the ceiling to ensure that it will detect smoke effectively.

To keep safe, please remember:

If you are in need of a carbon monoxide detector, please visit your local building supply store.

Through the Baltimore City Fire Department’s 311 Smoke Alarm Program, residents of Baltimore City can receive free smoke alarms. Please call 311 and within two hours firefighters will come to your home to install 10 year lithium tamper resistant smoke alarms on each level of your home.

(Baltimore, Maryland) – Sunday, November 4, 2012 – Maryland Task Force 2 – Region Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team returned at 1:00 p.m. to the USAR warehouse located at 4220 Shannon Drive in Northeast Baltimore after deployment to Garrett County Maryland.

The Maryland Region Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR) was deployed this past Thursday on orders from Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake after a request from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to offer support to Garret County Maryland who was hit by a major snow storm.

At 6:00 p.m. on Saturday all task forces completed their goals and objectives set forth by incident commander which was to search and clear EVERY road in Garrett County. MD-TF2 was released from the incident and reported to Garrett Community college for meals, debriefing, and demobilization procedures.

Maryland Task Force 2 has demobilized and is heading home to Baltimore, Maryland. The USAR team is expected to arrive at the USAR warehouse located at 4220 Shannon Drive in Northeast Baltimore.

We are very proud of the Maryland Task Force 2 for the expertise, commitment and dedication to assist others in this region during a time in need, states James S. Clack, Fire Chief Baltimore City Fire Department.

Maryland Task Force 2 (MD-TF2) is an Urban Search and Rescue response team designed to provide a coordinated response to disasters in urban environments. The task force is capable of responding to Regional, State, and National disasters including earthquakes, hurricanes, widespread tornadoes, and manmade and terrorist events within a 2-hour notice.

The capabilities of the US&R Task Force include, but are not limited to the following:

Thursday, October 25, 2012 – As the City of Baltimore closely monitors impending weather conditions through the National Weather Service (NWS), citizens are urged to take appropriate actions to limit the impact on their families and homes.

The weather conditions over the next few days are expected to produce showers and thunderstorms with heavy downpours and high winds. Rainfall accumulation may develop between 1-2 inches over the next several days. To avoid or even limit the potential for flooding in and around your home, clean storm drains now.

Most storms that produce high winds can create very unsafe conditions for motorist and civilians. These winds can dismantle outdoor lawn furniture, tools, trash cans and other debris which can become deadly projectiles. The Baltimore City Fire Department urges everyone to take the time to secure these objects on your property or bring them indoors, as not to create a life hazard situation for others.

High winds can bring down large trees, dismember tree branches and sever power lines. These power lines contain thousands of voltages of current that can transmit current by standing nearby. Do not approach downed arching power lines, and avoid parking beneath trees.

As a result of downed power lines, you and your family may be without house power and life’s basic essentials or the creature comforts of home for an extended period of time. Having your emergency preparedness kit on hand can help you and your family to manage during this difficult time until your utility service is restored or firefighters/paramedics can reach you.

Be sure to have on hand a portable weather band radio, flashlights with spare batteries, DO NOT USE CANDLES they may cause fires, fresh water, cell phone with charged battery, non-perishable food items, medication along with eye glasses and a list of important contacts numbers, and a first aid kit.

If you should encounter a power outage, use your mobile cell phone to report your emergency by calling 311. 911 should ONLY be used in the presence of an emergency.

Some residents may attempt to use gasoline powered generators that are only intended for outdoor use. As these gasoline powered appliances produce deadly carbon monoxide, they are NOT to be used indoors.

History teaches us that a lack of awareness and preparation are common threads among all major natural disasters. By knowing your vulnerabilities and what actions you should take, can reduce the effects of a high wind disaster.

Baltimore, Maryland – Thursday, October 11, 2012 – At approximately 2:00 a.m. the Baltimore City Fire Department was dispatched to the 5600 block of Denwood Avenue in Northeast Baltimore for a report of a house fire. Units arrived on the scene to find a two story brick occupied end of group dwelling fully involved with fire. Heavy fire and smoke conditions literally filled every window of this structure to the extent that man was observed jumping from a second floor window in an attempt to save his life.

Fire companies began to establish water supplies at nearby hydrants and advance charged hose lines into the dwelling. As firefighters entered the dwelling, they were met with adverse conditions caused by intense flames, heat and heavy smoke. With reports of people trapped, firefighters ascended to the second floor to perform search and rescue operations and suppress the fire for other offensive operations to be engaged. It was during this time that a firefighter fell through the floor actually landing on top of another firefighter. A mayday was sounded and the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) quickly went into action to locate the two injured firefighters and bring them to safety. Both firefighters were rescued, brought to the exterior of the dwelling, assessed and treated by paramedics on the scene and transported to Bayview Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.

Due to intense and rapidly deteriorating conditions, the incident commander requested a second alarm assignment. Firefighters continued their offensive attack on the fire suppressing it to the point of permitting other firefighters to perform search and rescue operations. While performing primary search and rescue operations firefighters located the bodies of five victims on the second floor of the dwelling. Preliminarily, it appeared that all victims perished due to smoke inhalation and burns; however the official cause of their death will be made by the State Medical Examiner.

As firefighters continued their attack on the fire, other firefighters performed ventilation operations and shutting off of utilities to decrease further hazards to firefighters while battling this intense blaze. Before long, the flames and heavy smoke conditions began to diminish rendering itself lifeless against an aggressive attack by firefighters. As the smoke turned white, firefighters performed a secondary and tertiary search for additional victims inside of the dwelling.

Fire investigators and Police arson detectives stood by on the scene awaiting to gain entry into the dwelling to begin a preliminary assessment into the cause of the fire. Family members stood by watching frantically for word of the condition of other family members that were left inside the dwelling. Neighbors, spectators and media from local broadcast outlets converged on the scene. When all the flames were extinguished firefighters continued to search the remains of this horrible fire for any additional victims. A final word came announcing the family’s fate; the grandmother and four grandchildren would not emerge as they were nearly consumed by the fire.

The fire department has been vigilant in its mission to reduce fire deaths and property loss to the point that in early September 2012 the city only experienced three fire deaths for the calendar year. Significantly lower than previous years.

At present, the official cause of this fire remains under investigation. Exactly where the fire started and monetary damages to the structure and contents will be contained in the final investigation report.

Baltimore, Maryland – Sunday, October 14, 2012 - In the wake of a raging house fire that claimed the lives of a grandmother and her four grandchildren, Baltimore City firefighters will reach out to Baltimore citizens as a reminder of this very important life safety measure. The Neighborhood Sweep is scheduled for Sunday, October 14, 2012 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm. 

Firefighters will canvas the entire city of Baltimore by walking through their local communities engaging with citizens and installing smoke alarms wherever needed. "This creates an opportunity to interact with the public that we serve and more importantly install an early warning device (smoke alarm) in conjunction with a home evacuation plan to keep residents safe from the dangers of home fires", states Chief Kevin Cartwright, Spokesman BCFD. 

The following list outlines specific locations where firefighters will be performing their Neighborhood Sweeps. As a reminder, the fire department urges anyone without a smoke alarm to call 311 for a FREE SMOKE ALARM and within two hours firefighters will come to your home and install a ten year lithium tamper resistant smoke alarm. 

A central meeting point for news reporters, journalists and photographers will be 5600 Denwood Avenue and Claybury Avenue.

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

4th Battalion

5th Battalion

6th Battalion

Engine 58

Engine 35

Engine 2

Engine 57

Engine 26

Truck 6

Truck 21

Rescue 1

Baltimore, Md. (October 10, 2012) – The Baltimore City Fire Department is deeply saddened by the recent and untimely death of Fire Lieutenant Lawrence Hughes. Lieutenant Hughes was born on August 21, 1948 and passed away on Monday, October 8, 2012 at Gilchrist Hospice in Towson, Maryland after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.

Lieutenant Hughes was appointed to the Baltimore City Fire Department on November 11, 1974 and served a tenure that spanned more than 36 years. Hughes was initially assigned to Engine Company #52 from there he was assigned to Engine Company #29 and later accepted an assignment at Truck Company 26. He concluded his career after a lengthy assignment to Engine Company #51.

Lieutenant Hughes attended and graduated from City College and University of Baltimore with a degree in Business.

During his service to the department, he received two Exemplary Performance Awards for rescues in building fires.

As a part of a family tradition, Lieutenant Hughes was fortunate to have his brothers Gerald and William Hughes serve as Fire Captains in the Baltimore City Fire Department as well. Being a proud father, Lieutenant Hughes’ son wanted to follow his footsteps in public service and was appointed to the department in 2004 and currently is assigned to Truck Company #5.

Lieutenant Hughes was a big fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens and greatly enjoyed his red Corvette that his wife presented as a gift on his 60th birthday. Lieutenant Hughes is survived by his wife Doris “Dotterweich” Hughes and son Lawrence.

Viewing will be held on Thursday, October 10 and Friday, October 11, 2012 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Schimunek Funeral Home 610 McPhail Road, Belair, MD 21014.

Baltimore, Maryland – October 1, 2012 – On Saturday, October 6, 2012 the Baltimore City Fire Department will once again host its Annual Thrill Show and largest public education event of the year. Beginning at 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Baltimore City Fire Academy located at 6720 Pulaski Highway children, parents, fire buffs and thrill seekers will have an opportunity to see Baltimore’s bravest at work.

This event is being held to raise the public’s awareness about the importance of home fires and how to avoid becoming a victim to the tragedy of fire. There will be numerous static displays with fire apparatus, EMS and rescue units as well as live demonstrations to see the work that firefighters and paramedics do 365 days a year to keep our citizens safe.

Firefighters and fire inspectors will be on hand to assist attendees with creating home evacuation plans, share information on how to avoid fires that involve electrical appliances, space heaters, kitchen and grease fires as well as those caused by improperly discarding smoking materials. They will also discuss the importance of having a working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home. Doing so will increase you and your families chances of survival by fifty percent.

As a highlight and familiar attraction, Baltimore firefighters will compete in the Firefighter Combat Challenge as they race to compete in five heats that involve the stair climb with a high rise pack, forty pound hose hoist, hose advance, rescue of a 180 pound mannequin and end with the forcible entry simulation.

Some of the days attractions will involve a vehicle fire with patient extrication. The rescue team will engage the “jaws of life” to remove the roof, car doors and hood. Firefighters will also perform a burn cell that involves a small kitchen on fire to demonstrate just how fast a room in your home can become fully engulfed with heavy smoke and fire within minutes. There will also be a large tanker fire to be extinguished using a CRASH vehicle by members from the Martin State Airport. Firefighters will also extinguish a fire fueled by natural gas using multiple charged hand lines and fog streams.

For the interest of small children the event will host a moon bounce and ball crawl, paint and craft table, free Thomas the Train and fire engine rides along with a firefighter dress up station. Among the static displays will be a 1947 Mack Flood Light Wagon No. 1 from the Fire Museum of Maryland and the Johns Hopkins Mobile Safety Center.

The Baltimore City Fire Department welcomes the entire Baltimore community as well as those from other jurisdictions to take part in the worthwhile educational and fun opportunity.

FACT: Cooking is the third leading cause of fire deaths and the leading cause of death among people ages 65 and older. It’s a recipe for serious injury or even death to wear loose fit clothing, walk away from a cooking pot on the stove, or leave flammable materials, such as pot holders or paper towels around the stove.

• Never leave cooking unattended. A serious fire can start in just minutes.
• Always wear short or tight fitting sleeves when you cook. Keep towels, pot holders and curtains away from flames.
• Never use the range or oven to heat your home.
• Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave your house.

The Baltimore City Fire Department urges everyone to practice fire safety in your home. If you are in need of a working smoke alarm, please call 311 and firefighters will arrive at your home within two hours to install a ten year tamper resistant smoke alarm. Having a working smoke alarm and a home escape plan will increase you and your family’s chances of surviving a home fire by fifty percent.

Protect your family from the dangers of the “silent killer” carbon monoxide. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home today!

Fire Prevention Month is Sunday, October 7 thru Saturday, October 13, 2012. “Have Two Ways Out”

(Baltimore, Maryland) – September 14, 2012 – The EMS Training Section of the EMS Division and the EMS Community Outreach office will be hosting a community wide kickoff event in the gymnasium of the Public Safety Training Facility at 3500 West Northern Parkway on September 22nd 2012 from 0800-1600 hours. The purpose of this community outreach and training event is to train as many citizens in "Hands Only CPR." This kickoff event will be the beginning of a monthly event that will be offered to residents of the city "Free" of charge and participants as young as 8 years of age can attend. These training sessions will be offered at two locations in order to capture a larger segment of the population within Baltimore City. The Public Safety Training Facility will host the 1st Saturday and The Fire Academy will host the 3rd Saturday of each month.

In an effort to raise the public’s awareness, interest and participation, "We urge the public to take advantage of this life saving tool that can be very instrumental when and if that sudden and unexpected time occurs when someone’s life is on the line and because you learned CPR by the Baltimore City Fire Department, a family member or even a stranger walks out of the hospital and lives a healthy and vibrant life because you cared", states Captain Tavon Claggett, EMS Training Division, BCFD.

The American Heart Association’s states the following "Less than one-third of sudden cardiac arrest victims receive immediate CPR from bystanders." Through a variety of programs, the American Heart Association (in conjunction with the Baltimore City Fire Department) is equipping people and communities to act in emergencies and ultimately save lives. Studies show that Hands-Only CPR, which only involves two simple steps, can be as effective as conventional CPR.

Pre-register by calling (410)396-1005 or email directly at LearnCPR@baltimorecity.gov.

(Baltimore, Maryland) – Sunday, September 2, 2012 - Baltimore City firefighters were dispatched for report of a house fire at 6:39 p.m. in the 2200 block of E. North Avenue. Upon arrival to the scene firefighters were met with heavy fire and smoke conditions on the first floor of an occupied two story brick row house.

Without haste firefighters took a charged hand line into the front of the dwelling to perform a rapid attack on the fire. While making headway into the dwelling, other firefighters performed search and rescue operations when they found the body of an elderly woman who appeared to have perished due to smoke inhalation and burns; however the official cause of the expired victim's death will be determined by the State Medical Examiner's Office. There were no reports of any other occupants inside the dwelling at the time of the fire.

A neighbor suffered a possible fractured leg when he attempted to rescue the elderly woman. The patient was treated at the scene for his injuries and was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital for further evaluation and treatment of his injury.

Fire investigators and Police arson detectives are on the scene and will be making a preliminary assessment into the cause of this fire. Preliminary assessments by fire investigators determined that there were no smoke alarms visible and a more in-depth observation would confirm whether the home had any working smoke alarms at all. That information will be contained in the final investigation report.

The fire was dispatched at 6:39 p.m. and placed under control at 7:01 p.m.

The occupant that perished in this fire has been identified as Gertie Horton, 88 years of age.