Firefighter Dies in Suspected Hoarder Fire

Today is a sad day for the fire service as we mourn the loss of Firefighter Gene Kirchner.  Gene was a member of the Riesterstown Volunteer Fire Department who responded to 19 Hanover Road on April 24, 2013.  Firefighter Kirchner was conducting a search for confirmed occupants trapped when a crew member discovered him with his PASS alarm activated.  He was pulled from the fire in Cardiac Arrest and transported to a local Hospital where he ultimately passed away from his injuries (According to Multiple News Sources)

FF Gene Kirchner


While the investigation continues into this tragic event, the initial audio from the fire shows indications of a Hoarder Environment.  At the 07:48 mark of the on scene audio the interior crew find the downed firefighter and announce “I think we have a Hoarder House”.  The interior conditions have not been released yet, but we all should take a moment to review hoarder fires.

As we mourn the loss of FF Kirchner we all send thoughts and prayers to his family and the members of the Baltimore County Maryland Fire Department.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life” John 15:13

Funeral Details can be found Here: RVFC.ORG

Local news coverage:

Statter911.com 

Wjz.com

Firehouse.com