Baltimore Fire Department Honors Fallen Firefighters Charles Mudra and Lt. Mark Dranbauer

The Baltimore City Fire Department is in mourning following the tragic deaths of two of its veteran firefighters, Charles Mudra and Lieutenant Mark Dranbauer, who both succumbed to medical emergencies while on duty.

Charles Mudra, who served as an emergency vehicle driver for the department, was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital after experiencing a medical issue during a training session at the Fire Academy. Mudra dedicated 17 years of his life to serving the city.

In a statement, the Baltimore City Fire Department expressed its condolences: "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters. His service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the safety of our city will never be forgotten."

Lieutenant Mark Dranbauer, aged 44, passed away after suffering a medical emergency while fighting a fire on West Saratoga Street on May 12. Fire Chief James Wallace reported that Dranbauer was approximately 30 to 40 feet off the ground when he fell backward down a ladder but remained on the aerial ladder. He was later taken to Shock Trauma, where he died days later. Dranbauer, who had served the department for 23 years, is expected to save 70 lives through organ donation.

Chief Wallace noted Dranbauer's legacy, stating, "The Dranbauer family is a firefighting family, so he comes from that bloodline." Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen also shared his condolences, calling the firefighters "Maryland's finest heroes" and expressing his sorrow for their families and the fire department.

Funeral arrangements for Lt. Dranbauer have been made, with a viewing scheduled for Friday, May 23, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Schimunek Funeral Home in Bel Air, Maryland. His funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, at Mountain Christian Church in Joppatowne, Maryland, where uniform personnel are expected to line up at 10 a.m.

This week has been particularly challenging for the Baltimore City Fire Department, which has responded to significant incidents, including a 7-alarm fire at a warehouse in West Baltimore and a three-alarm fire in Hampden, both occurring within days of each other.

Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).