Hundreds Honor Fallen Maryland Medic

Jan. 18--Forest Hill resident Richard Etheridge sat on a Jersey barrier across South Hickory Avenue from the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company's main fire station Saturday afternoon, watching as uniformed fire and EMS personnel, along with civilians from throughout Central Maryland, streamed into the station to pay their respects to the late Capt. Erik Steciak.

Capt. Steciak, 29, was a volunteer captain with the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, and he was a paid paramedic with Bel Air. He died in the line of duty Jan. 6 while working at the scene of an auto accident off Patterson Mill Road.

Etheridge, 45, who was waiting for a friend who is a chaplain with the Baltimore City Fire Department to arrive, noted Capt. Steciak treated him for chest pains a few months ago.

"He was a great guy," Etheridge recalled. "He was really good."

He said Capt. Steciak also checked up with him at the hospital.

"He stopped in the room to see how I was doing," Etheridge said.

Etheridge, who has since recovered from the chest pains but also been treated by EMS workers for what he called a "mini-stroke" a week ago, was saddened by the news that Capt. Steciak had died.

"It was sad to me," he said. "He's a good guy."

Etheridge related the experience of "having someone work on you when you think you're having a heart attack, and then a couple months later, you see their picture in the paper that they've passed away."

Etheridge was one of 1,500 to 1,800 people fire officials projected would attend Saturday's viewing, which was the second held for Capt. Steciak. A viewing in Howard County Friday drew about 500 people, according to West Friendship fire officials who attended the Bel Air viewing.

"The support from the other [fire] departments statewide has been tremendous," West Friendship Chief Mickey Day said.

Capt. Steciak, a Columbia resident, joined the West Friendship fire company nine years ago, according to Day.

He started as an EMT, and he worked on the EMS and fire sides of the company. He was also a training coordinator for the department, according to the department website.

"The biggest attribute that Erik had was that he was a great mentor," Day said.

Capt. Steciak was known among Bel Air and West Friendship members for taking new members under his wings and spending extra time helping them with their training.

"He would spend countless hours at the station with new members, telling them everything they needed to know about being a good firefighter or EMT," Day explained.

The chief noted Capt. Steciak was known for his patience, and that "he never lost his patience, no matter what the question was."

"Erik's going to be missed for a very long time," Day said.

Craig Willms, the EMS supervisor for Bel Air, also praised Capt. Steciak's dedication to training younger company members. He also noted Capt. Steciak followed up with patients he treated and would visit them in the hospital.

"[He] just showed an enormous desire to help people," Willms said.

Willms also expressed his gratitude to people who attended the viewing.

"It's been tremendous support, not only for [Capt. Steciak's] family, but for the fire department as a whole," he said.

The viewing began at 1 p.m. and ended at 5 p.m. Saturday. The firehouse vehicle bay was initially filled with members of the Bel Air and West Friendship companies in their dress uniforms, but members of neighboring Harford County fire companies, as well as companies from throughout the Baltimore region, flowed in through the afternoon.

Representatives of law enforcement agencies, local elected officials and civilians also paid their respects.

A large American flag hung in front of the station from the ladders of a West Friendship and Bel Air fire truck. Bel Air ambulance 395, which Capt. Steciak rode, was also in the lot.

His body was transported in that ambulance from Howard County to Bel Air, and he left Bel Air in a West Friendship ambulance as he was taken back for his funeral, which is scheduled for Sunday.

Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire & EMS Association and a member of the Bel Air company, said the attendance was close to what fire officials estimated "based on what we observed."

He said via text message toward the end of the viewing that there was a "steady flow rolling through all day."

The Bel Air fire apparatus was moved from the station to a nearby parking lot on Hickory Avenue. Gardiner said during the viewing that fire departments and companies from Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania sent apparatus to fill in for Bel Air during the weekend.

Two fire trucks, including one from the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company and another from the Salisbury Fire Department on the Eastern Shore, as well as a command vehicle from the Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company, could be seen.

Gardiner said units from various companies will rotate in and out to provide coverage.

"We'll have support from multiple fire departments across the state of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware," he said.

Trucks from Harford County fire companies such as Fallston, Joppa-Magnolia, Aberdeen, Abingdon and Aberdeen Proving Ground were parked in the county lot next to the Main Street Oyster House, along with vehicles from Arbutus and even the Air Force.

Trevor James, of Frederick, took photos of the various fire trucks. He said he is a member of the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company in Frederick County, and he described himself as a "lifelong fire buff, fire photographer."

"I did not know Erik, but the fire department's a brotherhood and sisterhood, so you come out and show your respects," he said.

Representatives from Joppa-Magnolia, along with fire departments in Baltimore County, Montgomery County and the Martin State Airport in Baltimore County, were greeting Bel Air and West Friendship members.

Gardiner noted "the fire service is a family; we lean on each other for support."

"As you can see today, it's a larger family in itself," he said, indicating the crowd in the vehicle bay. "It's an exponential family."

Bel Air police officers blocked vehicle traffic on Hickory Avenue between Churchville Road and Courtland Street as visitors walked from the parking lot across the street to the firehouse.

"Bel Air fire is always available for us, so we're going to do whatever we can [to help]," Jack Meckley, Bel Air's interim police chief, said.

Rick Sharesky, a resident of Bel Air, looked on from the parking lot.

"I was just passing by and wanted to show support," he said.

Sharesky's daughter Lena, who is a college sophomore, was named Miss Fire Prevention for Bel Air several years ago. He said he and his daughter "have a lot of respect for what they do," based on their association with the fire company, such as working with members at fire prevention events.

"It's amazing, the support they show when they lose one of their own," he said.

Capt. Steciak's funeral service will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Marriotts Ridge High School in Marriottsville. His interment will be private.

Carpooling is suggested for those attending the funeral service.

On-site parking for the funeral will be limited to family and dignitaries, visiting fire company apparatus and Howard County government officials.

All others wishing to attend are requested to park at the Howard County Public Training Safety Center at 2200 Scott Wheeler Drive in Marriottsville. Continuous shuttle service will be provided from this location.

Additional information regarding the funeral can be found on the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department website, https://www.wfvfd.org.

The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company and Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services are also cooperating to provide live streaming video of Sunday's service at https://www.ustream.tv/channel/hocopio.

Copyright 2015 - The Aegis, Bel Air, Md.