Mishandling of deadly blaze in Stricker Street vacant house reveals deeper woes in Baltimore firefighting

Shortly before 6 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 24, the first 911 calls came in to Baltimore’s emergency communications center, warning that a house was on fire in the 200 block of South Stricker Street. More than one caller described it as vacant. Most noted there were flames shooting out of the top floors. One of the nine early morning callers claimed there were kids inside. Records show that firefighters arrived at the fire within minutes.