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Modified 8-Dec-23
Created 8-Nov-23
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The Baltimore City Fire Department once again laid two of its members to rest that were killed in the line of duty. On October 19, 2023 around 1540 hours Fire Box 46-40 was dispatched for a reported dwelling fire in the 5200 block of Linden Heights Avenue in the Central Park Heights neighborhood of northwest Baltimore. When units arrived there were multiple houses involved. There was heavy fire in the rear of four two-story dwellings. A working fire assignment was requested. Firefighters from Engine 29, the first arriving unit, made their way into the front of one of the involved houses. Within several minutes the fire blasted towards the front of the structure and overtook the crew. A May Day was called and several other firefighters entered to retrieve the downed members. A second alarm was immediately dispatched. During the rescue efforts three other firefighters were burned. The original two were brought outside and worked on until the medic units took over and transported them to the hospital. EMT/FF Rodney Pitts, Engine 29 was pronounced dead at the hospital from his injuries. Lieutenant Dillon Rinaldo, Engine 46 was injured while attempting to rescue Pitts. He was transported to Bayview Burn Center with severe burns over his body. He succumbed to his injuries on October 25th. Three other firefighters were taken to area hospitals. Two were treated and released and the third one remained in the hospital for several days with non life-threatening injuries until his release. The fire was declared under control three hours later. The ATF along with other agencies were dispatched to the scene and spent several days investigating the deadly fire.
EMT/Rodney Pitts was given a full Fire Department funeral on October 27th. He had just graduated from the fire Academy on August 31st and was assigned to Engine Company 29. He was interred with full honors at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.
The following Friday Lieutenant Dillon Rinaldo was also laid to rest at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. He was posthumously promoted to Captain by the Department on October 24th. He started his career at Engine 13 in 2017 and promoted to Lieutenant last year and assigned to Engine Company 46. Dillon grew up in New Jersey and was inspired by his father, who is the Chief of the Fair Lawn Fire Department. Dillon was also a revered member of the same department as his father. He was to have been married in May of 2024.
In both funerals hundreds of firefighters and police officers from all over the country as well as Canada were in attendance. The City Fire Department once again put every City unit out of service so that the on-duty members could attend the services. The stations were covered with about 150 units from all across the state of Maryland.
EMT/Rodney Pitts was given a full Fire Department funeral on October 27th. He had just graduated from the fire Academy on August 31st and was assigned to Engine Company 29. He was interred with full honors at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.
The following Friday Lieutenant Dillon Rinaldo was also laid to rest at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. He was posthumously promoted to Captain by the Department on October 24th. He started his career at Engine 13 in 2017 and promoted to Lieutenant last year and assigned to Engine Company 46. Dillon grew up in New Jersey and was inspired by his father, who is the Chief of the Fair Lawn Fire Department. Dillon was also a revered member of the same department as his father. He was to have been married in May of 2024.
In both funerals hundreds of firefighters and police officers from all over the country as well as Canada were in attendance. The City Fire Department once again put every City unit out of service so that the on-duty members could attend the services. The stations were covered with about 150 units from all across the state of Maryland.
© Howard Meile III