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Families of fallen Baltimore firefighters refile lawsuit against city

The new lawsuit accuses the city of knowingly endangering firefighters by disbanding the Code X-Ray program designed to flag hazardous abandoned structures

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.


Investigators are unable to determine the cause of the 2023 fire that killed two Baltimore firefighters and considered the fire to be an accident

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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.