Investigation of Fire that Killed CT Firefighter to Take Days
By Christine Dempsey
Source Hartford Courant
Editor's note: A GoFundMe campaign has been started for the family of firefighter Ricardo Torres Jr.
It will take several more days for investigators to wrap up their probe of a New Haven house fire that killed one firefighter and seriously injured another, a state police sergeant said Thursday.
Investigators are working around the clock examining the two-family house on Valley Street, the scene of the fire that killed Firefighter Ricardo “Rico” Torres Jr. and critically injured Fire Lt. Samod Rankins, Sgt. Paul Makuc of the state police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit said Thursday afternoon.
“We will be out there for several more days,” Makuc said at a press conference in New Haven.
The state medical examiners are investigating what caused Torres’ death. They won’t be able to confirm the cause of death until they review lab results, a spokeswoman said. The toxicology tests generally take 6-8 weeks.
Rankins remained in critical condition Thursday morning at Bridgeport Hospital’s burn unit. His family said he is conscious.
“We at the Connecticut Burn Center are trying to do the best we can do to try to help Lt. Rankin recover, as we do with every patient,” spokesman John Cappiello said.
Doctors were able to remove carbon monoxide from Rankins’ lungs, his cousin, Leon Bowman, told the Courant Wednesday.
Fire departments from all over the state and nation have expressed condolences on social media, and a GoFundMe account set up to help Torres’ pregnant wife and child had raised almost $170,000 by 12:15 p.m. Thursday, surpassing its goal of $20,000.
Two other firefighters were injured in the blaze, Fire Chief John Alston said. Firefighters Tyrone Reed and Tyler Skolnick were treated at a hospital and released.
Firefighters were able to rescue two civilians from the burning house. Both are expected to recover; one was treated at a hospital and discharged, the other was treated at the scene, Alston said.
At 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, multiple 911 callers reported the fire at 190 Valley St. in the northwestern part of the city, next to West Rock Ridge State Park. People were trapped, they said.
Crews encountered heavy fire when they arrived within a minute, the chief said. Firefighters rescued the two civilians, one of whom was the home’s owner.
At 1:15 a.m., fire officials called for a second alarm to bring more resources to the scene. Seven minutes later, a mayday distress signal went out over the radio. A firefighter had become lost and disoriented, Alston said.
A rescue team went to the second floor of the house, where they found and removed Torres and Rankins, who were unconscious. Torres later died.
The fire was declared under control until 3:23 a.m.
Torres joined the fire department in July 2019, and Rankins was hired in February 2018. He was promoted to lieutenant in March, the chief said.
Torres wanted to be a firefighter since he was first hired, said Alston, who hired him.
Courant staff writer Jessika Harkey contributed to this report.
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