By Caitlyn Freeman
Baltimore Sun
BALTIMORE — One firefighter remains in critical but stable condition after sustaining injuries during the Thursday afternoon fire that killed firefighter Rodney Pitts III, a Baltimore Fire Department spokesperson said Saturday.
The rowhouse fire in the 5200 block of Linden Heights Avenue in the Woodmere neighborhood in Northwest Baltimore that took the life of Pitts also hospitalized four firefighters who suffered burn wounds, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said at a Friday news conference.
[EARLIER: Baltimore firefighter killed in rowhome blaze identified; 2 injured FFs released from hospital]
Pitts was inside an occupied house sandwiched between two vacant properties when firefighters were overwhelmed by the blaze’s intensity, The Baltimore Sun reported. Three of the four injured firefighters were helping with rescue efforts.
In a Facebook post Saturday, the fire department said Lt. Dillon J. Rinaldo of Engine Co. 46, a six-year veteran, “suffered serious injuries that may warrant a lengthy hospital stay.” The other three firefighters had been treated and released by Sunday afternoon, according to fire department spokesperson Kevin Cartwright.
Keith Brooks II, a 14-year veteran, and firefighter Tavon Marshall, a 3-year veteran, were taken to the hospital where they were treated and released Friday. Firefighter Seth Robbins, a 17-year veteran, had been released by Sunday.
— Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734 (@BCFDL734) October 22, 2023
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire. Baltimore Police’s arson and homicide units also are investigating.
Pitts joined the department last year and began active service as a firefighter and EMT in August. He was stationed in Park Heights on Engine 29.
His death comes less than two years after three firefighters were killed and a fourth was seriously injured in a vacant rowhouse fire on South Stricker Street in New Southwest/Mount Clare.
[RELATED: 3 Baltimore FFs dead; 1 in critical condition after house fire]
A person who answered the door at a house listed for Pitts declined to comment Friday.
In the wake of his death, the Baltimore Firefighters Union has established a GoFundMe with a $200,000 goal to support Pitts’ family. As of Sunday afternoon, the campaign had raised $25,418 through over 380 donations.
Several state and local leaders expressed condolences to Pitts’ family, with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott calling him a “hero” in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter.
EMT/Firefighter Rodney Pitts III will always be remembered as a hero of @BaltimoreFire who gave everything to protect the Baltimore he loved so much. pic.twitter.com/tA7S4fn9mt
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) October 21, 2023
Similarly, Gov. Wes Moore ordered all U.S. and Maryland flags be flown at half-staff on Friday to commemorate the death.
“Our entire state grieves for the victims of the fire in northwest Baltimore that took the life of one firefighter and seriously injured four others [Thursday night],” he said in a statement.
Baltimore Sun reporter Dan Belson contributed to this article.
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