Veteran Howard County firefighter Nathan Flynn was killed while fighting a house fire early Monday morning in Clarksville, Maryland.
Flynn, 34, was a 13-year veteran of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. He leaves behind a wife and four children.
Flynn was operating at a house fire when he reportedly fell through a floor and into the basement. A mayday was transmitted, and a rapid intervention team was deployed to locate and remove him. He was transported to Howard County General Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Firefighter Flynn, 34, and members of his fire department responded to a lightning-caused structure fire in a large single-family residence. The fire was reported at approximately 0200hrs. At approximately 0220hrs, Firefighter Flynn and other firefighters were advancing a hoseline into the structure when the floor collapsed. A Mayday was initiated, and Firefighter Flynn was rescued after about 20 minutes.
Firefighter Flynn was transported to the hospital but did not survive his injuries. The cause of death was multiple injuries.
At FDIC 2018, Nathan Flynn was one of several hands-on training instructors among the team delivering the “Real Houses Not Doll Houses” class. The focus of the training was about real-world conditions simulated in fire training with a focus toward engine company operations, ladder company operations, and short-staffed company operations. Using individual experiences from the various instructors in the team, students were gifted with the talent and personal lesson from instructors like Flynn to enhance their FDIC experience.
Kiel Samsing, the lead instructor for the hands-on training wrote about Flynn in the wake of his death. Those thoughts below epitomize the essence of a FDIC instructor, being there for the students and delivering the valuable information that helps firefighters save lives.
“A few years ago a guy approached me at FDIC after my lecture class and wanted to talk shop. I asked if he wanted to grab a beer and something to eat at The Ram since I was starving. Well, a beer and lunch turned into more beer and dinner and more beers. We had a few people pull up a seat and join the table and it was just a great time. What started as lunch, turned into an 8 hour conversation. I saw a lot of myself in Nate and it was like we were old friends. We talked about the fire service but we found out I went to college just down the road from where he lived. We found out we both love old houses and talked about fixing them up. Nate’s passion for the fire service was obvious from the start, but what really shined through was his love of his wife and kids. He was so happy talking about them and was incredibly dedicated to them. Like his FB profile says he was truly a family man, Fireman, and brother.
I never imagined that conversation with a fellow passionate, hard headed fireman with a short fuse would change my life. That conversation was the starting point for the FDIC HOT class we put on last year and there was never a doubt that Nate would come along as an instructor. He was so dedicated to every task that week and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect and that the students got the best experience possible. Nate was a solid instructor. Watching him in that skill station was a pleasure. He loved that station. He loved that it pushed people to their limits and made them better firemen.
I talked to him earlier this month on my way back from New York, we were getting ready to pass his exit on 95 and I messaged him to tell him we were passing through and to see how he was. Him and the family were out on the boat and he said he had wished we swung by and that he would’ve put us up for the night and taken us out on the boat. That’s the kind of guy he was. He made time for the people he cared about. I wish we would’ve stopped to see him. I am praying for his family and brothers and sisters and looking forward to when I’ll see him again.”
All of us at FDIC and in the Clarion Fire Rescue Group offer our condolences and deepest sympathies to the Flynn family, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, and to the “Real Houses Not Doll Houses” cadre, on this sudden loss.
