January 24, 2022 – In Breaking News – FIREHOUSE

Baltimore officials delivered the tragic news that three Baltimore firefighters died and a fourth is in critical condition following the collapse of a rowhome Monday morning.

Fire Chief Niles Ford identified the deceased as Lt. Paul Butrim, Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey Sadler, and Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth Lacayo.

Firefighter/EMT John McMaster, a six-year member of the department, is in critical condition but stable condition at Baltimore Shock Trauma.

(The house partially collapsed, trapping the firefighters inside. Courtesy of ABC News and YouTube. Posted on Jan 25, 2021.)

There are no words to describe the pain and the severity of the losses we have suffered today,” Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement.

“My heart is with the Firefighters, their families, and the entire Baltimore City Fire Department who put the lives and safety of others before their own wellbeing each and every day. I ask that all of Baltimore keep them in our prayers during this extremely difficult time.”

“This is a gut-wrenching tragedy for our city, the Baltimore City Fire Department, and most importantly the families of our firefighters.

Today, Lt. Paul Butrim, FF Kelsey Sadler & FF Kenny Lacayo lost their lives in service to our city. FF John McMaster remains in the hospital in critical but stable condition. We will continue to pray for the family of those we lost. pic.twitter.com/cRGXp1YwNp

— Baltimore Fire (@BaltimoreFire) January 25, 2022

Firefighters were called to the fire on the 200 block of South Stricker Street at 5:53 a.m. and arrived at 5:56, Ford said during the press conference.

In a photo posted to Twitter by Baltimore Firefighters Local 734, fire was showing from all floors of the three-story, middle-of-the-row home.

Just after 6:30, Local 734 tweeted that there had been a collapse and multiple maydays were called. In a photo they shared, fire was now through the roof of the structure.

A second alarm was called to bring additional crews to the scene.

A heartfelt moment for #BCFD. FF John McMaster was released from @shocktrauma FF McMaster is truly a #HERO. We will continue to pray for his health & strength as he recovers. pic.twitter.com/h3eOblTwsv

— Baltimore Fire (@BaltimoreFire) January 27, 2022

Ford said there was a partial collapse that trapped four firefighters.

McMaster was pulled from the debris quickly and was transported to Baltimore shock trauma.

(Monday’s fatal fire in southwest Baltimore shocked the city fire department and fire departments across the country as an investigation gets underway. Courtesy of WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore and YouTube. Posted on Jan 25, 2021.)

According to scanner traffic from Broadcastify, a second firefighter was located and removed about 7:40 a.m.

A third firefighter was removed about 8:20 a.m. and crews were ordered away from the structure over concerns about the building’s stability, according to additional Broadcastify radio traffic.

(Newly sworn-in Baltimore Housing Commissioner Alice Kennedy said a vacant house at the center of a deadly fire and federal investigation is a sign of a larger problem in the city. Courtesy of WJZ and YouTube. Posted on Jan 26, 2021.)

Continue reading… Three Baltimore Firefighters Killed in Collapse; One is Critical

Editor’s note: Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Lt. Butrim, FF Sadler, and FF Lacayo. Thank you for your bravery and commitment to serving the citizens Baltimore. You will not be forgotten.

FDNY and U.S. Fire Administration Honored in 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now entering its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

Thomas Richardson

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • FDNY Chief of Department

    • Chief Richardson is a 40-year veteran and true servant leader who served tirelessly as a Battalion Chief in the aftermath of 9/11 – after having lost 343 of his colleagues, Chief Richardson never sounding retreat or surrender to those who tried to harm our Country.

Richard Blatus

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations

    • Assistant Chief of Operations Blatus, also a 40-year Department veteran who also served as a Battalion Chief in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks,  Chief Blatus continues to lead, to inspire, and to mentor firefighters.

U.S. Fire Administration

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • Fire Service Training & Professional Development

• The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) supports the fire and emergency services professional development community through the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) initiative to standardize training, education, experience, and certification activities.

• USFA and National Fire Academy (NFA) work to advance the professional status and expand the knowledge and skills of fire and emergency services personnel, with free training and education programs to support fire departments and emergency services organizations in preparing for, preventing, and responding to fires and other hazards.

• This national, competency-based professional development system helps to eliminate duplication of efforts and enhance the overall professional development of the fire and emergency services.

(Tonya Hoover, Superintendent at United States Fire Administration describes how the USFA  supports the training, education, and professional development of fire departments so they are better prepared to respond to all hazards. Learn more about the staff behind their mission. Courtesy of the U.S. Fire Administration, FEMA, and YouTube.)

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards highlight the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

The United States was forever changed 20 years ago on September 11th, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon.

In the days that followed 9/11, the critical needs of protecting our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.

Our keynote speaker featured a moving and informative address from TSA Administrator and Vice-Admiral of the United States Coast Guard (Ret), David Pekoske; to our attendees who traveled from across the United States and abroad, on the strategic priorities of the 64,000 member TSA workforce in securing the transportation system, enabling safe, and in many cases, contactless travel.

Legendary Police Commissioner William Bratton of the New York Police Department, the Boston Police Department, and former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department was also live at the event, meeting with attendees and signing copies of his latest work ‘The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America,’ courtesy of the generosity of our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Premier Sponsors.

The 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program was Proudly Sponsored by AMAROK, Fortior Solutions and SIMS Software, along with Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, and Reed Exhibitions.

Why American Security Today?

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications

AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local level as well as from private firms allied to the government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

(See just a few highlights of American Security Today’s 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East. Courtesy of My Pristine Images and Vimeo.)

To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, be on the lookout for the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2021 ‘A Year in Review’.

The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of Annual ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.

It will serve as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2021 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It will also include featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

• For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

• Provides named sources
• Reported by more than one notable outlet
• Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

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