3 Baltimore firefighters dead after being trapped in burning row house

Three firefighters in Baltimore have died after they were trapped in a burning row house on Monday.

The Baltimore Fire Department said four firefighters were trapped in a vacant building after it partially collapsed, with only one able to be rescued and transported to the hospital. 

Lt. Paul Butrim, who spent 16 years with the department, firefighter Kelsey Sadler, who served for 15 years, and firefighter Kenny Lacayo, who served for seven years, died in the fire. 

Firefighter John McMaster was the only one able to be rescued and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The department released an update Tuesday saying his condition has improved and that he is conscious. 

The whole city is mourning the loss of the firefighters, with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ordering flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of their memory.

“Today we lost three brave @BaltimoreFire EMTs/Firefighters. We will never forget their sacrifice. I ask that we all pray for Firefighter McMaster, who remains at Shock Trauma, and keep the families of all of these heroes close to our hearts,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D) said on Twitter Monday.

Some family members have declined to comment, but Lacayo’s father, Jose Antonio Lacayo, said his son loved being an EMT and firefighter, The Washington Post reported. 

“He was a wonderful son, and I was really proud of him,” he said.