Firefighters from around the country attended Monday's funeral for Baltimore firefighter Allan Roberts. He died Tuesday after he was injured battling a house fire in the city's Greektown section. Roberts was the first Baltimore firefighter to die in the line of duty in more than a decade.
More firefighters and loved ones took time Sunday to remember Roberts.
The funeral Mass started at 10:30 a-m at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on North Charles Street. At it's conclusion, the funeral procession will then travel to Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium.
WJZ'S Alex DeMetrick spoke to attendees. "It's a loss of a brother in the firefighting community." Retired Baltimore City Fire Chief John Spikes said.
Roberts was remembered by Mayor Martin O'Malley as a hero who had the courage to charge into burning buildings to save other people. O'Malley said Roberts loved other people so much that he was willing to do that everyday.
A firetruck with flashing red lights brought the casket up the driveway at the Cathedral of Mary our Queen and bagpipes played as it was carried inside.
"Somebody's got to do it. We've got to save someone's live, it could be our own or somebody's family, but somebody's got to do it." Lt. Will Williams, Baltimore City Fire.
Firefighters from across Maryland, and from out of state, filled the church.
Charles Street will be closed today from 6 a-m until 1 p-m from Coldspring Lane to Northern Parkway, and westbound Northern Parkway will be closed from Charles Street to the Jones Falls Expressway.
Roberts is survived by his wife and four children.
Viewings for Roberts were held over the weekend at the Ruck Funeral Home on Harford Road.
He is the first Baltimore firefighter to die in the line of duty in more than ten years.
Witnesses say Roberts was trying to save others in a row home when he died.
Investigators have since determined, an electrical short caused the fire. BGE had cut off service to the home but it was illegally rewired to electrical units from another property.
Related Stories
