BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A scathing new report is renewing grief — and anger — for the family of one of two Baltimore firefighters killed in a 2023 rowhome fire.
Firefighters Rodney Pitts and Acting Captain Dillon Rinaldo were among the first to arrive at the home on Linden Heights Avenue on October 19, 2023. Within minutes of entering, conditions inside rapidly deteriorated. A MAYDAY call was issued as crews became trapped, with one firefighter heard saying, “we can’t get out,” before communication was lost.
Investigators say temperatures inside the home surged to nearly 1,000 degrees after the front door was opened — creating an environment that quickly turned deadly.
Years later, a newly released 300-page report is shedding light on what went wrong.
For Rinaldo’s mother, Geraldine Rinaldo, the findings confirm what she feared all along.
“You feel like they were set up for failure?” a FOX45 reporter asked.
“Yes,” she said, “I think that they were sent in way too early without having the rest of the backup team there with them, and by the time everybody else arrived, it was just too late.”
The report outlines what investigators describe as “multiple catastrophic failures,” including equipment malfunctions, staffing shortages, and gaps in training.
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Among the findings, both firefighters were wearing protective gear that was 12 years outdated and deteriorated quickly under the extreme heat. However, the report notes that in temperatures that intense, no gear would have likely held up.
Investigators also say Rinaldo was working overtime, and both as a firefighter and supervisor, potentially, compromising his ability to make critical decisions.
“The ability for Captain Rinaldo to make calculated decisions on the fire environment’s changing conditions while engaging in the early moments of the firefight on Linden Heights was delayed and inhibited by the fact that he had to perform several physical tasks and make several critical tactical decisions at the same time,” the report says.
In total, 82 areas needing improvement were identified, though the department says 20 had already been addressed before the report was released.
“It just went South from the minute they got there,” said Rinaldo’s mother, “I’m very, very upset and furious with the findings.”
Now, as the city faces renewed scrutiny, Rinaldo’s family says the report cannot be the end of the story. For them, it’s not just about finally understanding what went wrong, it’s about making sure it never happens again.
Matthew Coster, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 734, echoed those ongoing concerns. He sent the following statement to FOX45 on Wednesday in response to the findings:
Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734 acknowledges that the department has made meaningful progress in several key areas, including staffing levels, training practices, and the introduction of newer equipment. These are important steps forward, and we commend the efforts that have been made to address long-standing challenges.
However, significant concerns remain. Our apparatus fleet continues to experience ongoing mechanical issues, resulting in units being placed out of service more frequently than is acceptable for a major metropolitan fire department. This directly impacts our ability to provide consistent and timely emergency response.
Additionally, while staffing has improved, it is still not at the level necessary to ensure optimal safety for both our members and the citizens we serve. We also do not want to rely on our members working an excessive amount of overtime to meet minimum staffing levels. This is a high-stress, physically demanding profession, and our members are already overworked and underpaid. Ensuring a proper work-life balance is critical so they can perform at their best both on the job and at home.
The past several years have also taken an extreme toll on our members. We are still healing from the line-of-duty deaths at Stricker Street and Linden Heights, and many of our members continue to battle the mental health impacts stemming from those incidents, in addition to the daily demands of the job. The Baltimore City Fire Department operates under an intense call volume and frequent fire activity, forcing our members to do more with less. Unfortunately, the department is falling short in adequately supporting members dealing with these mental health challenges, and that is deeply concerning.
We remain committed to working collaboratively with city leadership and department administration to continue building on recent progress, while also addressing the gaps that still exist.
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