Maryland Volunteer Firefighter Killed in Roadside Bombing in Afghanistan

A Maryland volunteer firefighter was one of three American service members killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan on Monday, a fire official said.

Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher Slutman was mortally wounded when the convoy he was riding in hit a roadside bomb near the main U.S. base in Afghanistan, Kentland Volunteer Fire Chief Oleg Pelekhaty said.

Slutman, a married father of three young daughters, was a life member of the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George's County and had served with them for 19 years. He was also a 15-year member of the New York City Fire Department, serving in the Bronx.

"Through this trying time, we will remember Chris for the father, husband, brother, son, and friend that he was, the moral character he displayed daily, and the courage and conviction to serve his fellow Americans, both at home and abroad," a news release from Pelekhaty said.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also mourned his death and recounted when he presented Slutman the Fire Chief's Association Memorial Medal for rescuing an unconscious woman from an apartment fire.

"This unquestionably is an example of the measure of this man," de Blasio said. "Christopher Slutman is an American hero, a New York hero, and we mourn his loss today."

The flag outside the @Kentland33 fire station flying at half staff in honor of Christopher Slutman, a volunteer firefighter and US service member who was killed while serving in Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/LHdKH8ZUuR

— Cory Smith (@CoryNBC) April 9, 2019

The @Kentland33 mourning the loss of one of their own. Announcement made and photos shared on their Facebook page this morning. One source called him “an unbelievable young man” with a beautiful family. https://t.co/WzaSg2gInR pic.twitter.com/rgg9biJ259

— Darcy Spencer (@darcyspencer) April 9, 2019

As of Tuesday morning, there was no confirmation from U.S. military officials that Slutman was one of the three service members who were killed.

The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying one of its suicide bombers detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the NATO base. The U.S. and NATO Resolute Support mission said the three American service members, along with a U.S. contractor, were killed near the Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul, while three others were wounded in the explosion. Local officials said at least five Afghan civilians were wounded in the commotion after the attack.

The Kentland Volunteer Fire Department said plans for Slutman's funeral would be announced as details become available. An American flag outside the station flew at half staff on Tuesday in his honor.

"We ask for your thoughts and prayers for his firehouse brothers, his fellow Marines, his friends — but most of all, his family," the news release said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.