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Family of Baltimore Recruit to Get Federal Benefits

Oct. 25, 2010

The family of a fire cadet killed during a training exercise will receive PSOB benefits.

BALTIMORE, Md. -- The family of a fire cadet killed during a training exercise will receive PSOB benefits, a local Senator announced Monday.

Baltimore Fire Cadet Rachael Wilson was killed in 2007 during a live burn drill in a vacant house.

That fatal incident led to the dismissal of some Baltimore fire officials, and the demotion of others.

PSOB officials originally denied benefits to Wilson's family claiming she wasn't a firefighter.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski, (D-Md.), wrote to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on behalf of the Wilson family saying she was "without question a member of IAFF Firefighters Union Local 734."

Making the announcement Monday, Mikulski said in a prepared statement:

"Although nothing can erase the pain that Cadet Wilson's children felt after losing their mother, I'm so relieved they will receive the financial support that she earned and they deserve.

"I was proud to fight for the benefits they were entitled to."

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.