BALTIMORE — The families of three Baltimore City firefighters who died battling a vacant rowhome fire on Stricker Street in 2022 have refiled their lawsuit against the city, alleging negligence and seeking accountability. Firefighter John McMaster, who was permanently injured in the blaze, has also joined the legal action.
The lawsuit comes after U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox dismissed the families’ initial federal case last month, FOX 45 reported.
The lawsuit claims the city knowingly put firefighters in danger, pointing to the discontinued Code X-Ray program, which was designed to warn them about hazardous conditions in vacant homes.
The firefighters who lost their lives in the incident were Lt. Paul Butrim, Lt. Kelsey Sadler and EMT Kenny Lacayo. Their deaths highlighted ongoing concerns about safety protocols and resource allocation in Baltimore’s firefighting operations.
The fatal fire led to scrutiny of city policies for addressing vacant properties, with officials relaunching a program at the end of 2022 to tackle such issues.
The families and McMaster argue that more could have been done to prevent the tragedy, and they remain determined to pursue justice.
