A former federal fire investigator testified on Oct. 7 that a 2022 fire that killed three Baltimore firefighters originated in the rear portion of a condemned vacant row house.
James Edwin Barnett is charged with one count of second-degree arson, three counts each of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, and five counts of reckless endangerment in connection with the Jan. 24, 2022, fire at 205 S. Stricker Street. Lt. Paul Butrim, Firefighter Kelsey Lacayo, and Lt. Kelsey Sadler were killed when the building collapsed as they were fighting the blaze.
The former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) special agent that served as the primary fire investigator at the scene testified before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Alan Lazerow. When investigators arrived at the property, much of the building had already collapsed, leaving behind extensive debris and structural damage. Parts of the building had to be stabilized before investigators could begin examining the scene.
The investigator also discussed two previous fires at the property in 2015 and 2016. The first primarily damaged the interior, while the second caused part of the third floor to collapse into the second. Investigators compared that damage with the current scene as they worked to reconstruct the building.
During the investigation, an accelerant-detection dog alerted to the rear bump-out, prompting investigators to obtain a criminal search warrant. They also recovered a red butane lighter from the debris, although its connection to the fire was not established during testimony.
After examining the damage and reconstructing portions of the building, the investigator determined that the fire originated in the rear corner of the first floor. The basement had relatively little damage, helping investigators rule it out as the origin.
Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby mosque that showed smoke developing into visible flames a few hours after a few flashes of light occurred inside the building. They later used the same camera to test 12 different light sources, including a butane lighter and a phone flashlight, to compare them with flashes captured in the original footage.
Other possible ignition sources were ruled out. Utility records showed electricity and gas service had been disconnected since approximately 2014, while weather records showed no storms or lightning activity nearby in the 24 hours before the fire.
Testimony of the witness will continue at 1pm on Oct. 8.
