USFA On-Duty Death: Maryland

United States Fire Administration
23 October 2023

The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of EMT/Firefighter Rodney Pitts, III, 31, of the Baltimore City Fire Department on 19 October 2023.

On Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, Baltimore City Fire Department firefighters responded to a fire that broke out in a block of brick two-story homes. While inside one of the homes, 5 firefighters became overwhelmed by the smoke and heat. All 5 firefighters were rushed to the hospital. EMT/Firefighter Rodney Pitts, III died as a result of the injuries he sustained. One of the firefighters remains in the hospital in critical but stable condition. The other 3 firefighters have been treated and released. Investigation into the incident continues.

Age: 31
Rank: EMT/Firefighter
Classification: Career
Incident date: October 19, 2023 3:45 p.m.
Date of death: October 19, 2023
Cause of fatal injury: Exposure
Nature of fatal injury: Trauma
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Residential

The number of on-duty deaths for 2023 currently is 64.

Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2023.

Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.

For more information about on-duty deaths as recorded by the United States Fire Administration go to “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.”

Photograph courtesy Associated Press/The Baltimore Sun/Jerry Jackson.