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FIREHOUSE ROULETTE NEARLY KILLS
BALTIMORE FIREFIGHTER AND MULTIPLE CIVILIANS

Webster’s defines a hero as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave
deeds and noble qualities.  Firefighter Paramedic Jeffrey Novack is a hero.

At 9:10pm on April 7, 2010, Baltimore City Firefighters responded to a report of a building fire at
3910 Liberty Heights Avenue.  The closest THREE Engines (Fire Apparatus that carry hoses and
water) were unavailable; Squad 40 and Engine 46 were on Medical Emergency Calls and Engine
20 from Walbrook WAS CLOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO SAVE MONEY.  Truck 12
(Fire Apparatus that carry ladders and perform Search and Rescue) was the first unit to arrive.  
They arrived within seconds because it was the building next door to the firehouse.  Upon their
arrival, they encountered a three story apartment building, with fire in a 2nd floor apartment and
people trapped on the 3rd Floor.  FFPM Novack, and the other men from Truck 12, without
hesitation or thoughts of their own safety, entered the burning building to do their job, save people’
s lives.  FFPM Novack located and removed one victim from the third floor.  Outside, he turned the
victim over to awaiting BCFD Paramedics.  He then returned to the building to search for more
victims.  At this time, about 9:14pm, the first arriving Engine, Engine 52 from Mondawmin, arrived
on the scene and began to extinguish the fire.  While searching the 3rd floor again, FFPM Novack
became trapped by the fast moving fire.  He used his portable radio and transmitted a MAYDAY
distress call.  Unfortunately, before he could be assisted by the Rapid Intervention Team (a Team
of Firefighters on scene dedicated to rescue any Firefighter in distress) he was forced to hang out
of a 3rd floor window.  There he transmitted another MAYDAY, but the fire was growing too fast.  
FFPM Novack was forced to jump from that 3rd floor window, or he would have died.  Despite
other information released by Fire Department officials, he was on the 3rd floor not the 2nd, and
he did not fall, he jumped, after saving lives!  If more time was spent on the facts then there would
be fewer discrepancies.  FFPM Novack was immediately tended to by Firefighters and
Paramedics.  He was transported to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.  His injuries are
serious.  He has multiple broken bones and 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his arms.  At the time of
this release, he was in Serious but Stable condition.

The Incident Commander requested a Second Alarm, bringing additional Firefighters to the scene
to assist with battling the blaze.  There were a total of three civilians transported to area hospitals
by BCFD Paramedics.  One additional Firefighter suffered heat exhaustion.  He was treated and
released from a hospital.  No other injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under
investigation.

We should all be thankful that this event was not as bad as it could have been, despite the
Firehouse Roulette that the Blake Administration carried over from the Dixon Administration.  
Hopefully this shines a light to the Mayor and City Council.  

THE PUBLIC’S SAFETY IS IN JEOPARDY!  
Stop playing Firehouse roulette.  
Properly fund the Baltimore City Fire Department.  
The safety of the people who elect you depends on it!

On behalf of the Officer’s and Members of the Baltimore Firefighters, Local 734, we wish
Firefighter Paramedic, Hero, Jeffrey Novack, a fast and speedy recovery!

Contact Person: Robert Sledgeski, 410-234-0734, pio@baltimorefirefighters.net
FUNDRAISER FOR FFPM NOVACK

When: Thursday April 29, 2010
3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Where: Mothers Federal Hill Grille
1113 S. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21230
What: We realize that all of Jeff’s medical bills will be covered, but we would like to raise some money to cover the
additional costs associated with Jeff’s injuries. Most of the Novack family lives out of town so we want to help them
out with travel expenses such as fuel, tolls, food, etc…. It would also be nice to give Sam, Scott, and everyone else a
break and possibly send them out on the town one night. A $10 donation at the door will get you a wristband and a list
of drink specials at the bar. We will also have T-Shirts for sale, $10 each, with the proceeds going to the Novack
family as well.
Guest Book
                    The following is the staffing for Critical Alert Units for March and April 2010:

                                                     Unit                PRIMARY                BACK UP                        Assigned/ Location
                                                  Medic 41                    Truck 3                           Squad 11                                          Engine 5 (#)
                                                 Medic 42                  Engine 13                         Truck 16                                           Truck 16 (#)
                                                 Medic 43                    Truck 10                         Engine 8                                           Engine 36(#)
                                                 Medic 44                    Truck 29                         Engine 43                                         Engine 43 (#)
                                                 Medic 45                  Engine 29                         Truck 27                                           Engine 46
                                                 Medic 46                  Engine 57                         Engine 58                                         Engine 35

                                                 Medic 61                    Truck 26                         Engine 51                                         Engine 51/FAC
                                                 Medic 62                   Engine 6                          Truck 15                                           Truck 1
                                                 Medic 63                    Truck 8                           Engine 14                                         Engine 55
                                                 Medic 64                   Squad 54                         Engine 42                                         Engine 42
                                                 Medic 65                  Engine 20                          Truck 18                                          Squad 40
                                                 Medic 66                    Truck 6                            Engine 26                                        Engine 26 (#)