Pikesville Volunteer Firefighters Received Special Commendations from County

Late last summer, Seth Goldstein, a 17-year-old Boys’ Latin student, had just completed a program that taught vehicle and machinery extrication while working with the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Co. He quickly needed to put those lessons to work.

On Sept. 9, Goldstein was part of a PVFC unit that was called to 123 Oakmere Rd. in Owings Mills where part of a house under renovation collapsed, trapping two workers. But working with crews from several other companies, they managed to extricate the workers in about an hour – and the pair survived.

For that effort, this PVFC group – known officially as Confined Space Team 32 – was awarded a Unit Citation from the Baltimore County Fire Department at a commendations ceremony on Thursday night at Loch Raven High School. A variety of citizens, volunteers and firefighters from around the county were given awards at this event.

More than 24 volunteer firefighters received County Commendations for Lifesaving Awards. The Baltimore County Fire Department Honor Guard presented the Colors and Pledge of Allegiance.

For Goldstein, it was quite a way to go, from taking a course to helping someone with this knowledge.

“It was like everything we learned in the book, we have to do in real life,” Goldstein said. “It was not scary, just an adrenaline rush I wasn’t expecting. In the beginning, things got a little dicey but after working hard and being able to stabilize the house, we were able to formulate a game plan to extricate the victims.”

Overall, 13 PVFC members were named in the citation along with Goldstein — Capt. Scott Goldstein, Lt. Glenn Resnick, Lt. Joshua Schumer, Lt. Lawrence Burgan, firefighter Joseph Sagal II, firefighter David Kushner, firefighter Chris Imbach, firefighter Adam Goodman, firefighter Richard Berkowitz, firefighter, Lawrence Goldberg, firefighter Stephen Sindler and firefighter William Lehew.

Capt. Goldstein said that Pikesville also worked with volunteers from Chestnut Ridge, Lutherville, Owings Mills and Reisterstown, along with career firefighters from Randallstown, Reisterstown and Timonium.

Each of these units also received recognition at this ceremony.

Capt. Goldstein – Seth’s father – said rescues like these are what his team trains for, and he took pride in the fact that they were able to complete what he called “a pretty complex rescue.”

Capt. Goldstein said the problems with the building on that hot day really caused major issues in trying to rescue the two people.

“The instability of the structure, and my lack of an engineering degree to know if I do this what’s going to happen next, [was an issue],” Capt. Goldstein said. “It was just common sense and relying upon some of the other rescue guys who were there.”

Capt. Goldstein said PVFC usually receives honors like this every year or two, and they mean a lot to those in the company.

“It’s a reinforcement to our folks to train and be prepared for these high-risk, low-frequency calls to be able to perform such an extrication,” he said. “Training is what it’s all about.”

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Fire Chief John J. Hohman made remarks at the start of the ceremony, praising the people being honored and the work the volunteers and career firefighters do together on a regular basis – like the situation where the PVFC earned its honor.

“We work hand-in-hand,” Kamenetz said. “It’s just an incredible system that helps Baltimore County in many ways.”

Jeff Seidel is a Baltimore-based freelance writer.

Photos by Daniel Kucin Jr.