Stricker Street Fire Lawyers in Baltimore
Advocating for the Families of Fallen & Injured Firefighters
Miller Stern Lawyers LLC is committed to supporting the legal interests of the families of three firefighters who died, and one who was injured, during the Stricker Street Fire in January 2022. We are helping the loved ones of these heroes seek accountability and transparency regarding the events that led up to the incident that took their lives and caused severe injury.
Our legal team consists of dedicated advocates who care about achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients. In that vein, our Stricker Street Fire lawyers in Baltimore are pursuing all possible options to help those affected by the Stricker Street Fire tragedy. Our commitment to accountability is reflected in our relationships with all of our clients, who can expect our full support in any legal matter.
For more information or to connect with Miller Stern Lawyers LLC, contact us online or call (410) 529-3476.
What Was the Stricker Street Fire Tragedy?
The Stricker Street Fire tragedy was an incident on Jan. 24, 2022, when the interior of a vacant building collapsed and killed three Baltimore Fire Department firefighters, also seriously injuring one. The fallen firefighters were Lt. Kelsey Sadler, Lt. Paul Butrim, and Kenneth Lacayo. The injured firefighter is John McMaster.
At 5:53 a.m., an alarm came in that a three-story property at 205 S. Stricker St. was ablaze. Members of Engine 14 – which included Lacayo, Sadler, and McMaster – were first on the scene within two minutes. They entered the building to attack the fire, followed shortly by Butrim of Truck 23. At 6 a.m., the interior of the building collapsed, trapping six firefighters in total. Two from Engine 36 were quickly pulled out without injury, and McMaster was extracted approximately 15 minutes after the collapse.
It took until 7:39 a.m. to recover Lacayo, 8:18 a.m. to recover Sadler, and 4:08 p.m. to recover Butrim.
What Caused the Stricker Street Fire Tragedy?
The Stricker Street Fire tragedy could have been caused by various factors, including numerous errors and failures made by the Baltimore Fire Department and the City of Baltimore. Many of these are outlined in the line of duty report.
A chief concern for accountability, however, lies with a City of Baltimore program called “Code X-Ray” that was revived 10 months after the Stricker Street Fire tragedy. At the time of the fire, the program was dormant after shutting down two years prior, and the vacant building at 205 S. Stricker St. had twice caught fire in the past.
What Is Code X-Ray in Baltimore?
Code X-Ray is a recently revived program in Baltimore that marks unstable vacant buildings with placards and other indicators to warn firefighters of the potential danger of entering.
When Code X-Ray was fully operational, red signs and white Xs were placed on the building’s exterior to indicate its unstable condition. Firefighters were advised not to enter such buildings unless there was a credible report of someone trapped inside.
Contact Us for More Information
Our Stricker Street Fire attorneys in Baltimore represent the families of fallen firefighters Butrim, Lacayo, Sadler, and injured firefighter McMaster. We are committed to ensuring loved ones of these heroes can get the answers they desperately need, and hold responsible parties accountable.
For more information, contact Miller Stern Lawyers LLC online.
- Related Blog: Families of Four Baltimore Firefighters Who Were Killed/Injured in Rowhome Collapse Plan to Sue the City, State and Fire Department
- Listen to the WBAL NEWSRADIO Feature- Here
- View the Press Conference: WBAL-TV 11 News
- View the Official Press Release- Here
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