Eight Maryland first responders honored at Fallen Heroes Day ceremony

VIDEO: Eight Maryland first responders, killed in the line of duty, were honored Friday afternoon at the annual Fallen Heroes Day ceremony. Among them, a pair of city firefighters killed in October battling a series of homes on fire in Northwest Baltimore - Firefighter/EMT Rodnery Pitts III, and Captain Dillon Rinaldo. Both were killed fighting a fire on Linden Heights Avenue in January 2022. Pitts' mother, Monica Gant, spoke with WJZ ahead of the ceremony. She says she visits his burial site multiple times a week. "He's like, 'Mom, you're strong. You got this. We're in this together.' Like, I can still feel him and tell him, 'We're in this together,'" Gant said. Lauren Ridlon was Captain Rinaldo's fiancée. "He would have been very proud to be honored as a firefighter hero. It was his dream," Ridlon said.
WJZ-TV CBS 13 Baltimore

Ocean City Fire Departments touts response times, hiring, as part of 2023 season report

VIDEO: The Ocean City Fire Department released its 2023 Year End Report, which highlights the department’s unwavering dedication and continued excellence in safeguarding the community. The report underscores the OCFD’s successes and advancements over the past year in a detailed narrative included in the report, ahead of the 2024 summer season. Fire Chief Richard R. Bowers expressed his pride in the department’s achievements, stating, “Last year, the Ocean City Fire Department demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism, ensuring the safety and well-being of our community amidst increasing demands. Our personnel have faced numerous challenges with resilience and excellence, confirming our commitment to the highest standards of emergency services.”
WMDT-TV ABC/CW+ 47 Salisbury

Guinea pig dies, 22 chickens escape Harford County coop fire

Officials say a guinea pig died while 22 chickens and chicks escaped a chicken coop fire in Harford County on Saturday morning. At around 8:08 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to 8 Asbury Road in Churchville for a reported fire. At the scene they found a chicken coop fire that extended into two tarp covered buildings. The owners discovered the fire and attempted to extinguish it with a garden hose, fire officials say. Approximately 20 firefighters had the fire under control within 10 minutes. Officials say a total of 22 chickens and chicks were in a separate chicken run and survived. One guinea pig died due to the pen being connected to the chicken coop. Officials say the cause of the fire was due to a heat lamp.
WBFF-TV FOX/MyNetworkTV 45 Baltimore

Fire engulfs building’s cupola in Baltimore

VIDEO: The cupola of a four-story building was fully involved in fire Thursday afternoon. SkyTeam 11 reported around 1 p.m. that firefighters were setting up a perimeter around the historic building at South Broadway and Eastern Avenue in the Fells Point area. City fire officials said firefighters were called around 12:45 p.m. to find the mixed-use building that contains a business on the first floor and apartments on the upper floors. Officials said firefighters had to use ladder trucks and deck guns to douse the flames. It took about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control. There was an initial concern about the structural integrity of the cupola due to extent of the fire, so firefighters cordoned off the surrounding area in case it collapsed, but it did not. Fire officials said no one was injured.
WBAL-TV NBC 11 Baltimore

Deputy State Fire Marshals Recognized for Lifesaving Efforts

Maryland Department of State Police Superintendent Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. presented awards for outstanding service on Tuesday. Two of those recognized were Deputy State Fire Marshals Timothy McDonald and Cory Hurst for their lifesaving efforts. On December 12, 2022, Deputy State Fire Marshals Timothy McDonald, Kirby Travers, Christopher McIntyre, and Alex Chinn were having lunch in a restaurant on Nanticoke Road in Salisbury, Maryland. During their lunch, a woman entered the restaurant seeking assistance for her elderly mother, who was in medical distress inside a store beside the restaurant. All of the deputies quickly responded to the call for service. When they arrived, Senior Deputy McDonald found the woman lying on the floor and immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Southern Maryland News Net

Vacation home in Kitzmiller catches fire as owner prepares for summer renters

PHOTO: A vacation home in Kitzmiller, Maryland went up in flames on Wednesday evening. On May 1 around 8:00 p.m., a two-story single-family vacation home on 3440 Kitzmiller Road caught on fire. 25 firefighters responded to the single alarm fire and had it under control in 10 minutes. Officials say the owner was in the process of preparing the house for summer rental and had just left the residence a short time prior to the fire. Nearby residents observed smoke in the area and notified an official with the Kitzmiller Fire Department who investigated and discovered the structure fire. Fire crews say the fire originated in the rear bedroom. The preliminary cause is still under investigation.
WBFF-TV FOX 45 Baltimore