Keynote Address

“THE ANATOMY OF A COLLAPSE – HOW I SURVIVED”
EMT/Firefighter John McMaster,
Baltimore City (MD) Fire Department

Thursday, June 5, 2025 – 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
@ The Oncenter Ballroom (lower level)
*Open to all attendees

On January 24, 2022, a three-story row home collapsed trapping four members of the Baltimore City Fire Department. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Kelsey Sadler, Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth Lacayo, and Lieutenant Paul Butrim died as a result of the collapse. EMT/Firefighter John McMaster was the only survivor, and he will join NYSAFC in Syracuse to tell attendees how skip breathing and the efforts of his brothers and sisters saved his life.

Firefighter John McMaster was hired by the Baltimore City Fire Department in 2015. Upon graduation, McMaster was assigned to Engine Co. 36, where he was taught skip breathing as a probationary firefighter. During the early morning of January 24, 2022, Box 2-2-55-10 was struck out. While operating inside the three-floor dwelling, a collapse took place trapping three members of Engine Co. 14, along with one member of Truck 23. Lieutenant Kelsey Sadler (E14), Firefighter/ Paramedic Kenneth Lacayo (E14), and Lieutenant Paul Butrim (T23) were all tragically killed in the line of duty. Firefighter John McMaster survived, and he credits skip breathing and the bravery of his brother and sisters for his survival.

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