Baltimore fire tragedy: Maryland Gov. Hogan ups reward to $100K for information after 3 firefighters killed

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Maryland has upped the reward for information leading crime to the person of interest believed to have been involved in the us-regions blaze that killed three disasters earlier this month, Gov. Larry Hogan told Fox News Digital on Saturday.

Hogan, a Republican, announced Saturday that the state had increased the reward to $100,000 — doubling the total amount being offered by federal law enforcement and local union officials.

“It really was tragic, terrible – the worst thing that we’ve had happen since I was governor,” Hogan told Fox News Digital during an interview at the annual National Governors Association Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. 

FALLEN BALTIMORE FIREFIGHTERS HONORED FOR HEROISM, ‘BRAVERY’ AS CITY MOURNS ‘HEARTBREAKING’ TRAGEDY

Baltimore City Fire Lt. Paul Butrim and Firefighters Kelsey Sadler and Kenneth Lacayo died in the line of duty Monday while responding to an early morning fire on South Strickler Street that devolved into a partial building collapse.

Butrim, Sadler and Lacayo became trapped inside the three-story row house with another fellow firefighter, John McMaster, who was critically injured but survived the attack, and two others. 

3 BALTIMORE FIREFIGHTERS DIE, FOURTH MEMBER CRITICALLY INJURED IN BLAZE; ‘OUR WORST NIGHTMARE,’ GOVERNOR SAYS

Hogan said he has spoken with the families in the aftermath of the tragedy. The city is working now to “get to the bottom of who started this fire,” he said. 

On Friday, the Baltimore Field Office of the Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shared photographs of a hooded man whom they identified as a person of interest. Authorities are asking for any information related to the person of interest.

The ATF, Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Baltimore Fire Department and multiple other local departments are still investigating the cause of the blaze. 

“We ask that anyone who knows the identity of this person come forward to Special Agents and investigators can continue efforts to find the cause of this tragic fire,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. “The brave men and women of the Baltimore City Fire Department are always ready to respond when the people of Baltimore need them. Now it is our time to be there when they need us.” 

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Firefighters salute as an ambulance carries a deceased firefighter after they were pulled out of a collapsed building while battling a two-alarm fire at a vacant row home, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Baltimore.  (AP Photo/Julio Cortez))


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Firefighters embrace each other after a deceased firefighter was pulled out of a building collapse while battling a two-alarm fire in a vacant row home, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)


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Baltimore firefighter John McMaster, center, who was injured in the fire and building collapse on Stricker Street Monday hugs fellow firefighters that were there to greet him as he was released from Shock Trauma Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022.  (Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Sun via AP)


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Fire officials and a crew look on as an excavator is used to pull debris off a building during efforts to retrieve the body of a deceased firefighter caught in the building’s collapse while battling a two-alarm fire at the vacant row home, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)


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People embrace one another after a deceased firefighter was put into an ambulance after being pulled out of a collapsed building while battling a two-alarm fire at a vacant row home, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Baltimore. . (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)


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Firefighters bow their heads as a prayer is said after one of their own who died while battling a two-alarm fire in a vacant row home was pulled from the collapsed building, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Baltimore.  (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)


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Firefighters stand in a line near an ambulance after a firefighter who died while battling a two-alarm fire in a vacant row home was pulled from the collapsed building, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Baltimore.  (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)


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A Baltimore firefighter holds balloons given to him by neighbor Darlene Cucina as a group of fire officials sit on a stoop across the street where several firefighters died in a building collapse while battling a two-alarm blaze in a vacant row home, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Baltimore.  (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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The ATF announced Friday it was offering a $10,000 reward for information leading authorities to the person of interest believed to be behind the arson. Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr., and Baltimore fire unions IAFF Local 734 and IAFF Local 964 each contributed an additional $10,000.

A funeral service for the fallen firefighters is scheduled for 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday at the Baltimore Convention Center. 

Hogan said he will be speaking at Wednesday’s service.

Fox News’ Cortney O’Brien and Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.