BALTIMORE, MD (WEAA) — A mass casualty incident in Baltimore’s Penn–North neighborhood has left at least 19 people hospitalized after suspected opioid overdoses.
First responders were dispatched Thursday morning to treat numerous individuals exhibiting overdose symptoms in what officials are calling yet another alarming sign of the city’s worsening opioid crisis.
According to the Baltimore Fire Department, this incident is part of a growing wave of fentanyl-driven emergencies overwhelming emergency services citywide.
"Baltimore has been ravaged by opioid use and fentanyl-driven overdoses. The Penn–North incident isn’t isolated—it’s one in a growing number of overdose emergencies our city’s paramedics are being called to handle day after day. Each call demands advanced medical intervention and often requires multiple units due to the potential fatality and complexity of fentanyl-related overdoses," says Matthew Coster, President Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734.
The crisis comes as Baltimore’s EMS system faces mounting challenges. In July, the department was forced to downgrade four Advanced Life Support (ALS) units to Basic Life Support due to chronic staffing shortages and soaring overtime costs. ALS units are essential for providing advanced care in life-threatening situations like overdoses, cardiac arrests, and trauma.