'Catastrophic Failure' and Outdated Training Cited as Factors in Baltimore Fire that Claimed Two Firefighters

When two Baltimore firefighters answered their final alarm in 2023, they were part of an understaffed department with outdated training techniques and aging basic equipment.

Those were among the findings in an internal report conducted after Capt. Dillon Rinaldo, 26, and Firefighter/EMT Rodney Pitts III, 31, died fighting a house fire.

The document has not been released to the public. But, it has been shared with their families and other stakeholders, according to The Banner which obtained the 300-page report.

The investigators pointed to “catastrophic failure” of substandard equipment and “basic job-related functions” were “severely lacking" as factors that contibuted to the firefighters' deaths in the Linden Heights Avenue house.

When they went through the front door of the structure, they didn't turn on the hose, investigators determined, adding that they were never taught why it was important to have the line open as they advanced.

"Both members experienced catastrophic SCBA failures of their facepieces and UEBSS (buddy breather supply hoses). The failures sta1ted (sic) at 15:50 hours, less than 4 minutes after the members donued their SCBA. The members also experienced severe thennal (sic) degradation of their protective firefighting gear," the investigators wrote.

The SCBAs were 12 years old and far behind current standards. Since the fire, Baltimore firefighters are now using updated breathing equipment, according to the report.

When Rinaldo called a Mayday, which was answered quickly by the incident commander, he was asked for more information. Within 17 seconds, he called Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. "first floor" adding subsequently, "29, I can't get out."

Within five-and-a half minutes, they were found just feet from the front door and brought out of the house by fellow firefighters.

Pitts was in cardiac arrest when he was removed, while Rinaldo suffered extensive burns.

Crews performed CPR on Pitts, who was taken to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Rinaldo was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center for treatment of burns. He died Oct. 24.

They died less than two years after three firefighters were killed fighting a row house fire. 

While that report was released to the public within 10 months, that's not the case this time. 

When The Banner asked why the report hadn't been released, the city fire department spokesman John Marsh simply replied that their request had been received. Later, the paper was notified the document was finished.

Geraldine Rinaldo told reporters said city fire officials shared the findings during the first week of March.  Her husband, a fire chief in New Jersey, raised questions with them about what he believed were discrepancies in the report’s findings.

Thermal imaging cameras “were not utilized to their fullest potential and ability” during the initial response, officials wrote.

Probing that futher, they determined that “any new officer promoted or hired after 2013 has not received formal training in the department’s three types of thermal imaging cameras.”

Union officials also are among those waiting.

IAFF Local 734 President Matthew Coster said he'd been in contact with the chief “to get more information on when the report will be out.”

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace wrote in a message included in the document: "We remain steadfast in our commitment, to transparency, accountability and continous improvement on behalf of our firefighters, their families and the community we are sworn to protect...The lessons learned from this tragedy will guide us as we strengthen policies, enhance training, and refine our operational readiness..."