The Baltimore City Fire Department is in mourning following the critical injury of Lt. Mark Dranbauer Jr., a 23-year veteran firefighter who suffered a medical emergency while on duty, according to a statement from Fire Department Chief James Wallace. As reported by WBALTV, the incident occurred on Monday during operations on an aerial ladder, whereupon Dranbauer collapsed and was subsequently rushed to Shock Trauma for treatment.
Despite the efforts of the medical staff, Lt. Dranbauer's condition remained dire, with updates provided today indicating that he was on life support yet not expected to recover; the department shared, "It is with profound sadness that the Baltimore City Fire Department announces that Lt. Mark Dranbauer, a 23-year veteran of our department, remains on life support following a sudden and devastating medical emergency," in a social media post cited by the same WBALTV report.
In a moving gesture aligning with his lifelong commitment to saving lives, Lt. Dranbauer's family announced that he will continue to do so through the donation of his organs. "As such, Lt. Dranbauer has elected to continue to save lives," the family stated in an announcement mentioned by FOX Baltimore. His decisions allow for the preservation and preparation of his organs to potentially save an estimated 70 lives.
The firefighter's survivors include his immediate family and a broader network of colleagues and relatives. "Mark was beyond loved and is also survived by countless cousins, relatives, and, of course, his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore City Fire Department," the family expressed poignantly in a statement shared by FOX Baltimore. Details regarding a memorial service are yet to be released.
