Murder trial begins for fire that killed 3 Baltimore firefighters

More than four years after a fire killed three Baltimore firefighters, prosecutors and defense attorneys presented conflicted views Monday about what exactly happened.

Prosecutors have charged James Barnett, 58, of West Baltimore, in Baltimore Circuit Court with three counts of second-degree murder and related offenses. He maintains his innocence, and his defense attorney argues the evidence against his client fails to add up.

In dramatic testimony, Baltimore City Fire Capt. David Guercio recalled how he was sleeping on Jan. 24, 2022, when he learned about the fire at 205 S. Stricker St. with reports of people trapped inside the building.

“We’re going to direct all resources to try to save life,” Guercio recalled.

Guercio told the jury that he went to the back of the vacant rowhome that was engulfed by flames to help. Then, the house collapsed, ultimately claiming the lives of three firefighters: Lt. Kelsey Sadler, Lt. Paul Butrim and EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo.

In his opening statement, Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Salem said firefighters chose to put their own lives in harm’s way. Sometimes, accidents happen, and they are hurt — and even killed, Salem said.

“We are here because what happened on Jan. 24, 2022, was not an accident,” Salem said. “We all know that fires don’t start themselves.”

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation and recovered surveillance video that shows Barnett entered the home at 11:23 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2022, wearing a distinct blue and yellow jacket, and stayed for eight minutes, Salem said.

The footage, he said, depicts four flicks of light. Smoke started emitting about one hour later from the house, according to authorities.

For weeks, law enforcement canvassed the area and monitored CitiWatch cameras for leads, Salem said. They later found a shopping cart filled with scrap metal near a large pile of burnt-up material.

Salem said an investigator a few days later spotted Barnett pushing a shopping cart and followed him to a vacant rowhome on Ashton Street, where police discovered the blue and yellow jacket.

Barnett told investigators he entered 205 S. Stricker St., but denied he was depicted in the surveillance video.

Assistant Public Defender Jason Rodriguez said the case does not make sense. Rodriguez said in court Monday during his opening argument that his client is “completely innocent of every single one of these charges.”

“What happened on Jan. 24, 2022, to the firefighters was a tragedy,” Rodriguez said. “A further tragedy is trying to blame Mr. Barnett.”

Barnett is being held in the Metropolitan Transition Center without bail.

In his testimony, Guercio said he served as the rescue group supervisor and helped extricate Sadler and Lacayo from the home.

Guercio said he wanted to finish his shift. So, he hitched a ride back to the fire station, where he took a quick shower and called his father.

“And then I went back,” he said.

He was there when first responders recovered Butrim from the home.

This story may be updated.