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Firefighter Dies After Fighting 4-Alarm Blaze

PARKVILLE, Md. (WJZ/AP) -- Baltimore County firefighters confirm one of their own died Wednesday night trying to save people trapped in an apartment fire.  It happened at the Towson Crossing Apartments in Parkville.

Andrea Fujii explains a man and a woman were also badly injured.

The firefighter is a 43-year-old volunteer firefighter, who also worked for the Secret Service.  He has been identified as Mark Falkenhan.  He was inside, searching for victims.  His partner was also hurt, but did not require medical attention.

"I knew him personally.  I met him on his first day of the job when he came to work with us. He was a friend and just a great person," said Chief John Hohman. 

Fire Department spokeswoman Elise Armacost says the blaze was reported at the Towson Crossing apartments before 7 p.m. on Wednesday and had been brought under control. 

Hohman says the four-alarm fire was knocked down and crews were on the second and third floors looking for victims when a flashover occurred.

"At 6:47, what is known as a mayday -- which is a distress call -- was signaled," said Michael Robinson, Baltimore Co. Fire Department. "That firefighter was quickly located. He was extricated from the building, treated by EMS units on the scene and again transported to nearest medical center that being St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson."

Doctors couldn't save him. 

"We have an inherently dangerous profession.  I'm proud of our department and the people in our department,"  Hohman said.  "We will pull together, we will examine this and make certain all our procedures were followed, and if not, what can we learn from this."

"It was sad seeing one firefighter.  He was really upset. He was crying, throwing his stuff," said Antoinette Smith, witness.

A critical incident stress team was called in to care for the grieving firefighters.

Two civilians were injured. One was critically burned and was taken to the burn unit at Johns Hopkins Bayview. The other was taken to Sinai Hospital.

"It's a tragedy and this man died in the line of duty, saving lives," said County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.

Falkenhan had a wife and two children.

Falkenhan's partner only survived because he was able to jump out the window.  About 30 people were displaced from the building.

Towson Crossing Apartments are owned by Morgan Properties.  In a statement, a spokesperson said, "We are deeply saddened to hear the news regarding the fatality of the Baltimore County volunteer firefighter who responded to the scene. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the friends of this brave individual who responded to the scene to assist others in need. Our Property and Corporate Management teams are on the scene and working closely with the local authorities and the Red Cross to assist the affected families in taking care of their immediate needs."

(Copyright 2011 by the Associated Press.  All rights reserved.)

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