The families of three firefighters who died in the 2022 Stricker Street fire have filed a lawsuit against the city. They claim that critical safety information was deliberately withheld, potentially putting firefighters at greater risk, WBAL reports.
According to an attorney representing the families, the city abandoned a program known as “Code X,” which required buildings deemed unsafe or abandoned to be marked. This policy was designed to help firefighters assess the risk of entering a structure.
However, the lawsuit alleges that not only was the program abandoned, but the department also withheld information about the dangers of the Stricker Street building, including a previous incident where firefighters were injured in a collapse.
The city’s law department declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing ongoing litigation. An earlier suit against the city over the deaths was dismissed.