According to a report from FOX8, the body of James Craig Jr., 45, was found by his brother Donte several hours after firefighters extinguished a warehouse fire leased by Craig Jr. in the southwest section of Baltimore, Maryland, early Sunday.
The fire at the two-story commercial structure, leased for Craig Jr.’s demolition and hauling business, erupted in fire at around 11:30 p.m. Saturday. His family became increasingly concerned throughout the night after their calls and texts to Craig Jr. went unanswered. Donte then decided to go to the warehouse late Sunday morning.
Once inside the warehouse, Donte discovered the body of his brother on the second floor. The Baltimore Police Department have now launched a homicide investigation.
As the investigation continues, the Craig family wants answers, including why Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) crews initially failed to realize Craig Jr. was inside the building.
This new situation adds to other controversies surrounding the BCFD and its policies, which were already under intense scrutiny after three BCFD members were killed responding to a rowhouse fire earlier this year, leading BCFD Chief Niles Ford to resign last week after an investigation and subsequent report found numerous deficiencies.
Responding to this weekend’s warehouse fire, BCFD officials said they had no reason to believe anyone was inside the building, which they deemed structurally unsafe for fire crews to enter.
However, the Craig family disagrees, saying said there were signs of occupancy, including about a half-dozen dogs spending the night in an adjacent enclosure. First responders had the dogs taken to an animal shelter, according to family members.
Donte said that James used the first floor of the warehouse as a workshop, but he also had a bedroom upstairs where he sometimes stayed after working late. He collapsed near the top of the stairs, according to his brother.
Although sections of the warehouse were heavily damaged from the flames, the building’s metal staircase was intact.
Donte Craig said he easily walked up the stairs Sunday morning and saw James’s body before reaching the top. He wondered why BCFD members did not make a similar effort.
An investigative report found that the BCFD has no program to notify firefighters regarding vacant and unsafe homes, nor do they have standard operating guidelines for fighting fires and coordinating emergency medical services at vacant buildings. The report also cited a culture of competition among members that may have led to greater risk-taking.
In that case, there were signs of a previous fire and structural instability, but firefighters entered the building anyway, officials have said.
Baltimore’s large number of vacant buildings present a unique danger to city firefighters. A recent Baltimore Sun investigation showed that vacant homes in Baltimore ignite at twice the national rate, but gaps in record-keeping have limited what BFD crews know before making ingress.
BCFD spokesperson Blair Adams said that, at this weekend’s warehouse fire, BCFD firefighters initially entered the building and “performed interior operations to battle the fire.” However, the incident commander and safety officer then found “some visual signs of structural instability” and ordered crews to exit the structure. At that point, firefighters fought the fire from the exterior.
Fire crews placed the fire under control at about 1 a.m. Sunday. Adams said firefighters responded to the scene again on Sunday after Craig Jr.’s body was found. BPD homicide and arson units also responded, and officials said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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