No criminal charges will be filed in connection with the 2010 fire that killed two Bridgeport (CT) firefighters after a state police investigation into the deaths determined the fire was accidental.
The July 24 house fire, which killed Firefighter Michel Baik and fire Lt. Steven Velasquez, was also judged to be an accident. The tate police investigation deemed it began in a second floor bedroom and was caused by a candle that was left unattended close to combustible materials.
Baik and Velasquez were found unconscious on the top floor of the three-story house after they sent out Mayday calls during a structure fire. Autopsy results for Bridgeport (CT) Firefighter Michel Baik indicated he was killed by smoke inhalation. Velasquez died of asphyxia associated with smoke inhalation and exposure to fire; his air tank was also empty, however the investigation found that the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) were functioning properly.
The investigation also found that the structure had been converted to a three-family house without proper permits. No charges could be pursued, according to police, because it could not be determined when the third dwelling was constructed. For more on the illegal modification of residential structures and its impact on firefighting operations, read this article by Jerry Knapp.
