HoCo Firefighter's Death Sparks Sweeping Review

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — One day before the one-year anniversary of the death of Lt. Nathan Flynn, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services released a review from the deadly fire. The department organized a task force in August 2018 to probe the seven-alarm blaze in Clarksville that led to the first line of duty death of a career firefighter in the agency's history.

Flynn, 34, was a 13-year veteran of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. He was also a volunteer with the Susquehanna Hose Company in Havre de Grace, where he lived with his wife and five children.

To review what led to his death and to evaluate the July 23, 2018, fire as a whole, Howard County Fire and Rescue uniformed members, those from neighboring fire departments and personnel from outside agencies formed an Internal Safety Review Board to conduct an investigation.

The analysis of factors involved in Flynn's death revealed that he had made a mayday call providing his location that went to a radio channel that was not being monitored. Another member called mayday on his behalf one minute later. It took crews about five minutes to find him.

According to the report, "the most critical decision during the 7005 Woodscape Drive incident that led to FF Flynn's death was the tactical choice for crews to enter a structure above a fire."

One of the board's main takeaways was that a broader review was needed to look at the Howard County Fire Department of Fire and Rescue Services in its entirety.

A sweeping analysis of the department's structure, policies and procedures should be conducted, the board suggested in its 776-page report. Due to the lack of trust between firefighters and their leaders, the board suggested an industrial psychologist be employed as part of the review team to improve this vital dynamic.

Here is the link to the Line of Duty Death Investigative Report page and the link to the full report on the death of Flynn, which will open as a PDF.

SEE ALSO:

• Lt. Nathan Flynn 'Lived And Died A Hero': Governor
• Fallen Firefighter Identified After 7-Alarm Blaze In Clarksville
• City Shines Red In Tribute To Firefighter Nathan Flynn
• Howard County Firefighter Posthumously Promoted To Lieutenant