A Baltimore man is charged with arson and other charges in connection to a house fire that killed three Baltimore firefighters in 2022, according to officials and a WBAL-TV 11 News report.
James Edwin Barnett, 57, is charged with second-degree arson, second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment, according to online court records.
The charges come three years after the three firefighters were killed and a fourth was injured when part of a vacant home collapsed while they were battling a blaze on Jan. 24, 2022, the city’s fire chief said.
Officials say Barnett’s next court appearance is Monday.
Three Baltimore firefighters killed in vacant home fire
The Baltimore City Fire Department said in a tweet that firefighters were responding to a blaze at the three-story rowhome when the four were trapped inside. Crews removed piles of debris to locate the firefighters, the department said.
Chief Niles R. Ford told a news conference that injured firefighter John McMaster was pulled from the rowhome immediately and taken to the hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. Dr. Thomas Scalea of Maryland Shock Trauma said McMaster was on life support.
“Fingers crossed that he’s going to make it and be just fine,” Scalea said. “It’s hard to know at this point.”
McMaster was released from the hospital on Jan. 27, 2022. fellow firefighters stood outside the hospital to greet McMaster as a nurse helped in a wheelchair. Photos from the Baltimore City Fire Department show McMaster hugging his comrades.
Two other firefighters were pronounced dead at the hospital, Ford said. The fourth trapped firefighter was pronounced dead at the scene, the chief said, his voice breaking at times. Ford identified the dead as Lt. Paul Butrim, firefighter/paramedic Kelsey Sadler and EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo.
Scalea said Sadler and Lacayo suffered cardiac arrest at the scene and couldn’t be resuscitated. “Today, Baltimore has lost three of the bravest among us,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. “Baltimore owes them the deepest gratitude and respect that we can offer anybody.”
Wheaton firefighter remembered as ‘loving’ and ‘caring’
Kenny Lacayo, one of the firefighters who perished in the rowhouse fire, was remembered by the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, where he also served, for his bright smile and dedication.
“I would like my son to be remembered as the son of a proud father, loving and caring. He loved his community and the reason I say that is because he loved to help people,” Lacayo’s grieving father said.
Black bunting was draped along the front of the Wheaton fire station and inside Lacayo’s locker, where his coat and helmet remained a reminder of his loss.
Lacayo was a “life member” of the station.
“Tragically, this morning was one of those days where everything came together and unfortunately took the lives of several firefighters, including our beloved Kenny,” Wheaton Fire Chief Mark Dempsey said.
Lacayo earned numerous awards during his 11 years volunteering with the fire squad in Wheaton. Dempsey added that he was a rising star who thrived in Baltimore and wanted to be where the action was at a busy station.
“I’m not aware of anybody that didn’t love Kenny. When he became a fireman in Baltimore City, his nickname became Fireman Kenny, because that’s what his persona was. He was a fireman through and through,” the fire chief said.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/j3CePRm
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