Like fire departments across the country, Maryland firefighters responded to several structure fires during a recent storm.

But there was more to the five July 18 incidents than simple lighting strikes. All involved corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST). CSST is a pipe often covered in yellow plastic that carries natural gas or propane into homes and businesses.

While there were no injuries during the most recent incidents, two Maryland firefighters were killed in fires involving CSST – Howard County Lt. Nathan Flynn in 2018, and Frederick County Capt. Josh Laird in 2021.

Their widows weren’t willing to sit idly by. They researched what caused their husbands’ deaths, and armed with the information, took it to Maryland lawmakers.

• ATF Analysis Cites CSST Failures in Two MD LODDs

In 2022, then Gov. Larry Hogan signed the Flynn and Laird Act that prohibits the use of non-arc-resistant jacketed CSST.

In 2025, legislators took it another step further by making it illegal to sell, offer to sell or distributing the tubing.

But, the two didn’t take a victory lap. They stayed focused.

And, the issue is likely to come up in next year’s session in Annapolis.

“Builders have simply changed the color from yellow to black. It’s just as dangerous and we’re documenting the failures. It’s not safe,” Laird told Firehouse.

A legislative committee was ordered to study the issue and report back before the Maryland General Assembly convenes in January.

“We weren’t allowed to testify. But contractors and builders were,” she said.

Depending on the outcome of the study, Laird added additional legislation may be prepared.

Two of the recent fires occurred in jurisdictions where their husbands answered their final alarms.

Frederick County

Lightning struck and followed the line from the outside into the basement of an Urbana home where the CSST failed and arced.

“The flame broke a water pipe above that put out the fire. But the gas continued to flow and fill the house,” explained Frederick County Deputy Fire Marshal Eddie Ruch.

“The homeowners were out of town. A person who came to walk the dog noticed the gas odor and called it in. We were very, very luck.”

The incident occurred three miles from where Laird was killed after falling into the basement after the CSST-related fire.

Ruch said since the line-of-duty death, he and other firefighters in the county are more aware of the dangers of basement fires.

Howard County

Howard County firefighters found a basement fire in a bed and breakfast in Ellicott City.

They contained the fire to the basement, and there were no injuries.

Investigators with the county fire marshal’s office determined lightning struck the CSST line that was carrying natural gas.

They determined the building was unsafe and could not be occupied pending repairs and an inspection, a county fire department spokesperson wrote in statement to Firehouse.

The fire occurred five days before the eighth anniversary of Flynn's final alarm. 

Cecil County

A resident in an Elkton house found a fire in the ceiling space after hearing a crackling sound.

“He used a fire extinguisher and a garden hose until the fire company arrived,” Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said.

The fire that caused $2,000 damage was tied to a lightning strike and subsequent CSST failure.

The smoke alarm didn’t activate due to the location of the fire.

Carroll County

A CSST failure also was determined to have caused a house fire in Sykesville.

The occupants, a father and daughter, noticed a light haze in their house, and called 9-1-1, Sykesville Fire Department Deputy Chief David Polikoff explained.

The fire damaged the basement ceiling and first floor.

Firefighters in Salisbury also responded to a similar incident that weekend. However, no further information could be obtained.

Laird and Flynn, who have shared their stories across the country, encourage firefighters to report the CSST-related incidents on their website: Phoenix Advocates.