Connecticut Firefighters Still Looking for Closure

Even after attending a Wednesday night wake for the three young Stamford sisters who died in a Christmas morning house fire, Stamford's interim Fire Chief Antonio Conte said he and the firefighters who attempted to rescue the girls 10 days earlier are struggling to find closure.

"The closure we were looking for, when you see those little caskets, it wasn't there, and I don't know when it's going to come," Conte said as he exited Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home on Madison Avenue shortly before 6 p.m., along with several other firefighters, all in dress uniforms.

The firefighters joined Stamford Mayor Michael A. Pavia and Director of Operations Ernie Orgera to pay respects to 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah Badger and their 9-year-old sister, Lily, during the private wake.

Lily, Grace and Sarah died in an early morning fire at their Shippan Avenue home Dec. 25 that also claimed the lives of their grandparents, Lomer and Pauline Johnson. The blaze, which has been ruled accidental, left two survivors: the children's mother, 47-year-old advertising executive Madonna Badger, and her friend, Michael Borcina, 52. In addition to their mother, the Badger girls leave behind their father, Matthew Badger, who was in New York City on Christmas morning.

"It's not easy. We tried our best to save all those children and the grandparents, and we weren't successful. The fire just beat us back. It's a bitter pill to swallow for the Stamford Fire Department, and it's a bitter pill to swallow for any firefighter, when you have situations like this," Conte said.

Firefighters were twice forced out of the burning building due to the fire's intense heat and flames, which injured several firefighters, including Capt. Mark Shannon, who suffered second-degree burns on his face.

Kate Askew, a close friend of the Badgers, issued a public statement inside the funeral home Wednesday night, during which she thanked the firefighters and the Shippan and Stamford communities for their support of the family since the tragedy.

"Matthew, Madonna and the entire Badger and Johnson family would like to thank everyone for the support they have received. The incredible outpouring of love and compassion that has come from our community and around the world has been amazing, and has touched us deeply through this unbearable tragedy," Askew said, reading a statement written by the girls' parents.

Pavia said Wednesday the entire city of Stamford has been "grief-struck" since the fire.

"It is an unimaginable event that took place in the city of Stamford, and I'm here to support the family and let them know that on behalf of the entire city of Stamford, they're in our prayers, they're in our thoughts and that we will never forget. We'll never forget them. And that it's a tragedy that we hope never presents itself again -- anywhere in the world," an emotional Pavia said after he exited the funeral home shortly after 4:30 p.m.

The mayor said a larger contingent, including police officers, members of the mayor's cabinet and more firefighters, will attend Thursday's services at St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in an effort to lend support to the grieving family.

"It doesn't seem like much, but it's what people can do, and it's the only thing that we can do in this circumstance," he said while sitting in his car in front of the Madison Avenue funeral home.

"I hope that -- and I know this is a stretch and a reach and at this point in time, in this process something that is probably incomprehensible to most people, including myself -- I think that something good has to come out of this," Pavia said.

He suggested educational tours and open houses at the city's fire departments to help raise awareness about measures residents can take to ensure their safety.

"Going forward, if someone benefits from that, we'll never have to know it. We'll never have to read about it, and we'll never have to feel it again," Pavia said.

The Badger and Johnson families have created a foundation in honor of Lily, Sarah and Grace in an effort to build something positive from the Christmas tragedy. The mission of The Other 364 Foundation is to "champion compassion every day of the year," according to the foundation's website.

Lily, Grace and Sarah were described by their paternal uncle, Campbell Badger, last week as "wonderful, delightful, energetic children.

"They were loved tremendously by their mother and their father, who always put their kids first."

All three girls attended Windward School, a small private school in White Plains, N.Y., which focuses exclusively on students with language-based learning disabilities.

"Everyone knew them and loved them," said Roberta Solar, head of the 209-student lower school at Windward.

"They were lovely girls, just lovely girls. You just loved being with them," Solar said last week. "We're going to miss them very much."

Students and administrators from the school were among the dozens of friends and relatives who attended Wednesday's wake. Most attempted to slip into the funeral parlor as inconspicuously as possible as they passed between two police barricades holding back members of the press from numerous television stations and publications.

"The family is here to privately remember, mourn and honor their beloved Lily, Sarah and Grace as well as Lomer and Pauline Johnson," Askew read from the family statement at 6 p.m. "It is an incredibly difficult time for all of us ... The funeral service will be open for friends and family. Thank you for respecting the privacy of the family as they mourn during this very difficult time."

A public service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, followed by a private committal service for all five victims at Woodlawn Cemetery, at 233rd Street in the Bronx.

Pavia said he hopes the public ceremony will help those touched by the fire find closure and begin to heal.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service