A large outpouring of sympathy and tributes is expected in Bel Air Saturday as people pay their respects to Capt. Erik Steciak, the paramedic working for the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Co. who died in the line of duty responding to an accident call Jan. 6.
A viewing for Capt. Steciak will be held at the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Co.'s main station at 109 S. Hickory Ave. from 1 to 5 p.m.
Acting Bel Air Police Chief Jack Meckley said a number of changes to traffic patterns and parking will be in effect from late Saturday morning until after the viewing.
Capt. Steciak, 29, a Columbia resident, was responding to a call to treat a woman who had been injured in a car accident on Patterson Mill Road and walked to a nearby house. He was hit by a four-wheel drive utility vehicle that slipped on the ice and snow as it moved down the driveway to reach the patient, according to an accident report completed by the Harford County Sheriff's Office.
Besides working for Bel Air as a paid paramedic, he was a captain with the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department in Howard County, which he joined in October 2005 as an EMT.
Capt. Steciak's death was the first in the line-of-duty in Harford's fire and EMS service since 1999.
As many as 2,000 people, possibly more, are expected to pay their respects to Capt. Steciak, Meckley told town officials during a work session Tuesday as he outlined plans to accommodate the visitors.
In addition to many people driving into Bel Air, Meckley said, many, many pieces of equipment from area fire and EMS organizations are expected to be part of the tribute.
Among the traffic changes that will be in effect:
• South Hickory Avenue will be blocked and no vehicles will be permitted between East Courtland Street and Churchville Road (Route 22) and no right turns will be permitted from Churchville Road onto Hickory Avenue;
• Visiting fire apparatus will be directed to the Harford County government parking lot off of the 100 block of South Main Street, which is next to the Oyster House and the A.A. Roberty Building, the school board headquarters;
• Handicapped parking will be available on the site of the old High's across Hickory Avenue from the fire station. Officers will let those needing handicapped parking through the barricade, Meckley said.
• Drivers of non-emergency visiting vehicles are advised to park in the town's public parking garage off of Pennsylvania and Hickory avenues, half a block from the fire station; there is no charge for parking in the garage;
• The town parking lot on South Hickory across from the parking garage will be closed; Bel Air Volunteer Fire Co. equipment will be parked there.
• East Courtland Street between South Main Street and South Hickory Avenue will be open for Sheriff's Office emergency vehicles.
Meckley said another local fire company will be on duty at the Bel Air station during the viewing to respond to emergencies and will have its own equipment on-site in one bay of the garage.
"We are committed to helping the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Co.," Meckley said, explaining the visitors are most likely "to come in droves," based on his experiences with line-of-duty death services.
Communi-calls, or robocalls, are being made to town residents to inform them of the plans, he said.
"This is going to be a minor inconvenience for town residents," Town Administrator James Fielder said. "I'm sure the citizens will understand."
Additional information can be found on the Bel Air Volunteer Company website at http://www.bavfc.org.
The viewing for Capt. Steciak in Bel Air will be the second of two. The first will be Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department in Sykesville in Howard County, where Capt. Steciak was a member.
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 viewings and the funeral service.
On-site parking for the Friday viewing and Sunday 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 can be found on the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department website, http://www.wfvfd.org.
The fire company and Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services are also cooperating to provide live streaming video of Sunday's service at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hocopio.