10 Pikesville Firefighters Honored for Rescue

It was Oct. 16, 2009, when a Constellation Energy construction worker fell some 70 feet down a coal silo and was trapped in a small space.

In response, 10 members of the , Station 32, "grabbed their confined space bags and jumped on Squad 322, Tower 323 and Utility 329" to drive 27 miles to Bowley's Quarters in eastern Baltimore County, according to an article on the company's website.

On March 22, the Baltimore County Fire Department honored those 10 firefighters during the department's annual Commendations and Promotions Ceremony in Towson, according to a news release from the PVFC.

The following PVFC members received a Unit Citation tonight, the release states:

• Lt. Brian Schumer
• Lt. Adam Goodman
• Lt. Scott Goldstein
• PMFF Dan Ross
• Firefighter Richard Holden
• Lt. Josh Schumer
• Firefighter David Duff
• Firefighter Donald Rubin
• Firefighter Robert Sickeler
• Lt. Justin Schumer

Among the members on call that night, fortunately, were six members of Pikesville's Confined Space Team—now the only such team among county's 35 volunteer fire companies.

The Pikesville team and the Baltimore County Fire Department career station No. 17's Urban Search and Rescue team brought critical equipment and expertise to the scene. Together they helped Bowley's Quarters Squad 213 rescue the injured worker, an article on the PVFC website states.

The challenges included rescuing the worker from a secured place 100 feet up, and going down where, after it was ventilated, there was only 21 percent oxygen, the article states. There also could be coal dust at the bottom, so rescuers used breathing apparatus.

And the worker had landed in a confined space, which was about 5 feet long.

"Due to the extremely dangerous working environment, all rescuers working near the confined space were required to be in a Class 3 harness, secured into one of two steel cable tag lines with a fall arrester," the article states.

The teams used steel I-beams to secure lines to lower and raise the rescuers, and to raise the injured worker.

"With the extremely limited amount of working space, one of the challenges was keeping the various rope systems apart from each other," the article states.

Dan Ross was among the three rescuers who had paramedic certification and who were chosen to go down first. Ross gave the injured worker oxygen, among other treatments.

Next was PMFF Richard Lyons of Tower 17, from the Texas department, who helped Ross secure the worker to be lifted out of the silo. A Medevac helicopter took the worker to Maryland Shock Trauma, the story states.

Lt. Josh Schumer said the firefighters are thankful for the citation, which is unexpected. However, the biggest reward came after the rescue.

Last year, Schumer said, Michael Schwartzberg, PVFC spokesman and member, coordinated a meeting with the rescued worker, who had suffered serious head trauma. "We met with him and had lunch at the firehouse," along with rescuers from other organizations, Schumer said.

"That was by far was one of the most rewarding things. The rewarding part was sitting and talking to him. We don’t do that often," Schumer said.

Also honored tonight for the silo rescue will be: 

• Urban Search and Rescue 17: Capt. Daniel Lemmon, EMFF Andrew Stroup, EMFF David Hundertmark, PFF Shawn Drees
• Tower 17: Lt. Andrew Essel Jr., Lyons, FADO Steven Redmer, FFEM Eric Needle
• Foam Unit 14: FADO Chris Wilhelm
• Special Unit 267: Capt. Adam Davies and Firefighter Timothy Pace
• Squad 262: Lt. Lawrence Price, firefighters Andrew Connelly and Jordan Olszewski
• Utility 265: Assistant Chief Matthew Morgan
• Squad 213: Capt. Max King, firefighters John Hammen, Joseph Walters III and Louis Hurley Jr.

There will also be 85 promotions announced at the ceremony, including two division chiefs. Jonathan Hart will be the department's first African-American division chief after he is promoted tonight, according to a news release from the department.

Division chief is the department's third-highest rank.

Three children will be recognized for performing extraordinarily during emergencies, the release states.

"These include 6-year-old Donovan Jesse Ross, who made a crucial 911 call during the brutal stabbing of his aunt at 2006 Woodlawn Drive; 12-year-old J.D. Baier of Towson, who stopped the family’s minivan when his grandmother forgot to put it in park and the van started dragging her through the parking lot; and 4-year-old Khory Haines of Cockeysville, who called 911 when her mother fell unconscious due to a medical condition," it states.

The ceremony was held at 7:30 p.m. March 22 at Goucher College’s Kraushaar Auditorium in Towson. The college is located at 1021 Dulaney Valley Road. For a map of the auditorium location, or for directions, visit the college website.

To read more information on the awards tonight, visit the county's news release.