The U.S. Fire Administration has issued a report on the death of Firefighter Ricardo “Rico” Torres, who died after he and his lieutenant, Samod Rankins, were pulled from the second floor of a house fire in New Haven, Connecticut.
On Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at approximately 12:45 a.m., New Haven Fire Department personnel arrived at the scene of a residential fire. The members of the department rescued two residents who were trapped inside the house.
During the fire, Firefighter Torres was in trouble and transmitted a Mayday. He and his lieutenant were both found unconscious on the second floor of the home. Firefighter Torres was transported to the local hospital and was later pronounced deceased. The lieutenant was also transported to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
According to the Hartford Courant, two civilians were rescued from the fire: one was transported for smoke inhalation, while the other was treated at the scene.
Firefighter Torres was 30 years old. According to his obituary, he was a loving husband to Erica Martinez, and a loving and caring father to their sons Oliver Torres and Crew Torres, who is to be born in August.
