Crime & Safety

Firefighter Killed In Howard County Lived In Havre de Grace

Fallen firefighter Nathan Flynn worked in Howard County and lived in Havre de Grace.

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CLARKSVILLE, MD — A firefighter from Havre de Grace died battling a seven-alarm blaze in Howard County early Monday morning. Nathan Flynn was a career firefighter in Howard County and a volunteer fireman in Harford County.

Flynn was a 13-year veteran of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services and was working in Clarksville, outside Columbia, when he responded to the house fire.

The governor ordered flags across Maryland lowered, and they will remain at half-staff until the day of Flynn's interment. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

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“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Howard County Firefighter Nathan Flynn, a 13-year veteran of the department, husband and father who bravely ran toward danger ..." Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement. "The First Lady and I send our prayers and deepest condolences to his family, fellow firefighters, and all of his friends and loved ones in the communities he selflessly served for over a decade."

In addition to working as a career firefighter in Howard County, Flynn was a member of the Susquehanna Hose Company, joining the volunteer fire company in Havre de Grace in 2017. According to Harford County Executive Barry Glassman, Flynn was also a member of the Harford County Technical Rescue Team.

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"On behalf of the citizens of Harford County, we salute Nate for his service and his bravery, and we are grief-stricken for the young family that he leaves behind," Glassman said in a statement. "Our community will support them in any way that they need during this difficult time. We pray for Nate, his family, and his fire service brothers and sisters in both counties.”

Flynn, who lived in Havre de Grace, is survived by his wife and children. There is a donation page set up for the family through GoFundMe.

Officials said Flynn fell through the floor in a burning residence.

He is the first career firefighter to die in the line of duty in Howard County, according to Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman.

"This is a very sad, tragic day for Howard County," Kittleman said at a 10 a.m. news conference Monday outside Howard County General Hospital.

The deadly house fire began shortly before 2 a.m. at a home in the 7000 block of Woodscape Road in Clarksville, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services Deputy Chief William Anuszewski said.

As firefighters made their way inside, Flynn fell from the first floor to the basement, Anuszewski said. Mayday was called at 2:20 a.m., and an extensive search ensued to find Flynn. The fire intensified as firefighters were inside, the deputy chief said.

Crews searching for the fallen firefighter encountered heavy fire conditions in the basement, according to Anuszewski, who reported Flynn was located and removed from the building at 2:42 a.m. He was taken to Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, where he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 5:30 a.m.

Flynn was "a heck of a firefighter," said Anuszewski, whose eyes welled up with tears at times during the press conference. "He loved the fire service. He loved his family, both his fire department family and his home family."

The fire remains under investigation and may have been caused by a lightning strike, authorities reported. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was assisting in the probe, which authorities said was standard procedure for line-of-duty deaths.

The residence where the deadly fire erupted was owned by Janet Siddiqui, according to WBAL.

Siddiqui is a pediatrician who served on the Howard County Board of Education and tried unsuccessfully to run for County Council; she was defeated in the June Democratic primary to represent District 4, which includes parts of Clarksville, Fulton, North Laurel and Columbia.

Three people who had been inside the Siddiqui home reportedly escaped the fire.

As the flames spread throughout the home, crews from several jurisdictions arrived to assist.

The seventh alarm was called after 5 a.m., according to Howard County fire officials. Each alarm means that more personnel were needed to assist in battling the blaze.

Hours after it began, the fire continued burning at the $1.175 million house.

After 8 a.m., the fire reignited at the Siddiqui residence, where WBAL showed flames shooting out of the roof.

Crews from Howard County were assisted by firefighters from surrounding areas — including Baltimore, Carroll, Montgomery, Prince George's and Anne Arundel — in fighting Monday's massive blaze.


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

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