Funeral For Fallen Firefighter To Be Held In Joppa

JOPPA, MD — The funeral for fallen firefighter Nathan Flynn will be held this weekend in Joppa. Fire officials announced the arrangements on Tuesday.

Flynn, of Havre de Grace, was 34.

He died battling a seven-alarm blaze Monday morning as a career firefighter for the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

Flynn is survived by his family, including his wife and five children, according to WJZ.

A donation page set up for the family through GoFundMe has raised more than $65,000 in one day.

Working as a firefighter in Howard County and volunteering as a first responder in Harford County, he is being hailed as a hero in both jurisdictions. The state is also in mourning, with flags lowered to half staff.

Flynn was working when he responded to the fatal fire on Monday, July 23, in Howard County. He was a 13-year veteran of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

Officials said Flynn fell through the first floor to the basement at a house in the 7000 block of Woodscape Road in Clarksville, where fire intensified as crews went inside to fight the blaze.

Mayday was called at 2:20 a.m., and crews located Flynn and brought him outside at 2:42 a.m., officials said.

Flynn was taken to Howard County General Hospital, and his family was notified that he had succumbed to his injuries at approximately 5:30 a.m.

He was the first career firefighter to die in the line of duty in the history of the department.

When he was not working, Flynn also volunteered as a first responder closer to home with the Harford County Technical Rescue Team and Susquehanna Hose Company.

He was eager to learn and was "that guy that makes our team better," Harford County Technical Rescue Team Chief Steve Hinch told The Baltimore Sun, describing Flynn as the type of person that everyone wants to have on their crew.

"This hero put his life on the line every day to save others as his chosen career, and when his long days were over, he volunteered his time to the citizens of Harford County," the Harford County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "We are forever grateful for your service. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nathan Flynn, his family and friends, and his fellow first responders in Harford and Howard counties."

Flynn was described as a "heck of a firefighter" by Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services Deputy Chief William Anuszewski.

• Firefighter Who Died In Line Of Duty Is Harford County Resident
• Havre de Grace Shines Red In Tribute To Firefighter Nathan Flynn

"He loved the fire service," Anuszewski said. "He loved his family, both his fire department family and his home family."

Each of us has a similar picture, it shows love for both profession & family. FF Nate Flynn is universally remembered as a family man & “Fireman” the upmost compliment. Plz keep Nate in your prayers & help out his family if able. https://t.co/vkSL7Lx9ZK @HCDFRS @SusquehannaHose pic.twitter.com/S8jSffBA1Y
— BWI Fire and Rescue (@BWIFire) July 25, 2018

Celebration Of Life Announced

A viewing will be held from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 27, at Mountain Christian Church, 1824 Mountain Road, Joppa, MD 21085.

A memorial service to remember Flynn will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, at Mountain Christian Church. There will be full firefighter honors.

The Flynn family, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services Chief John S. Butler and Howard County fire personnel will be in attendance.

There will be no fire department procession or interment, according to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, at the request of the family.

Fire departments are encouraged to attend and travel in groups, and should not bring their apparatus, according to a statement from the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

Members of the Abingdon Fire Company paid their respects to Flynn Monday:

Photo courtesy of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.