UPDATED: Funeral Arrangements Announced for Fallen Howard County Paramedic

Officials from Howard and Harford counties have announced the funeral arrangements for Erik Steciak, the 29-year-old paramedic who was killed Tuesday in the line of duty in Bel Air.

Steciak was a member of Maryland fire companies for more than a decade and lives in Howard County, officials said.

Since 2005, Steciak has been a member of the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, where he mentored others, was recently promoted to captain and had been tasked with leading training, according to the department. His fire career began in Howard County at the Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department in 2003.

In Harford County, he joined the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company as a paid paramedic in December 2011 and the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company in September.

When he died Tuesday, Jan. 6, Steciak was with a crew from the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company responding to a motorist whose vehicle had gone into an embankment during a snowstorm.

West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department described the tragedy as “unimaginable loss” in a statement, excerpted here: ”Erik was consistently one of our top Fire and EMS responders, usually receiving several awards at each company banquet. Needless to say, this is an unimaginable loss for everyone who knew and loved Erik.”

There will be two viewings:

• 6–9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, at West Friendship Volunteer Fire Company, 12535 Old Frederick Rd., West Friendship.
• 1–5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, 109 S. Hickory Ave., Bel Air.

The funeral service for Steciak will be at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, at Marriotts Ridge High School, 12100 Woodford Drive, Marriottsville.

Following the funeral service, there will be a wake at the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services Training Academy, 2200 Scott Wheeler Drive, in Marriottsville.

A reception is planned from 3 to 7 p.m. at Turf Valley, 2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City.

Related:

• Bel Air Paramedic Killed in the Line of Duty
• Funeral Start Time Pushed Back for Fallen Paramedic
• To Honor Fallen Bel Air Paramedic, Glassman Orders Harford County Flags at Half-Staff
• Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, Harford County Mourn Loss of Paramedic
• Bel Air First Responder Involved in Patterson Mill Road Crash

Photo of Erik Steciak courtesy of Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.