Firefighter 'Steadily Improving' As Probe Of Deadly Fire Underway

NEW HAVEN, CT — As officials say New Haven firefighter Lt. Samod Rankins is “steadily improving” in the Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital following the Valley Street fire that claimed the life of city firefighter Ricardo Torres, Jr., state and federal officials are investigating to find out both the cause of the Wednesday Westville blaze, but also what led Torres’ line of duty death.

Officials confirmed Torres was covering that night shift for a fellow firefighter from the Engine 6 firehouse on Goffe Street, known as “Dixwell,” where they are both stationed. Fire officials said firefighters in the same firehouse covering each others’ shifts is a “fairly common practice.”

In a Thursday afternoon press conference, Detective Sgt. Paul G. Makuc of the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, said the unit, on scene since Wednesday morning, is in charge of the investigation but is working with the New Haven fire service, New Haven police, the New Haven state’s attorney, the state fire marshal and the federal agency the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which covers work-related injuries.

Saying the state police extends its “deepest sympathies” to the fire department, it was asked to “take the lead” on the “incident that led up to the tragic loss of life.”

Makuc said the probe requires “a lot of interviews” with many people including firefighters who were “there fighting the fire and rescuing” their fallen colleagues.

“We will try to determine where and how the fire started and determine how the events led to the tragic loss of one of their own.” He said investigators will “leave no stone unturned” and that local, state and federal investigators will be on the scene for several more days.

“We won’t leave the city until we know,” he said. “But it’s going to take some time.”

Meanwhile, during the press conference, officials said that New Haven fire Chief John Alston was at the hospital with Rankins.

New Haven fire services assistant fire chief Justin McCarthy said Alston “wanted to be there with the family.” He said Rankins’ family was grateful for the continued prayers from the community.

McCarthy also said that the fire department has been in “continual contact” with the family of fallen firefighter Torres. He said the family has asked for privacy as it grieves.

Early Wednesday, just hours after the deadly fire, Alston said Torres always dreamed of being a firefighter.

“Since he was a child, he wanted to be a firefighter," Alston said. "I interviewed him and hired him for this job. I was so proud of him and I continue to be proud of him.”

A GoFundMe for the Torres family — his very young son and wife, whose is expecting their second child — created Wednesday afternoon has received nearly $200,000 in donations so far.

Valley Street sits below towering West Rock. The fire broke out in the two-family house around 12:45 a.m. Alston said. When firefighters arrived, they discovered the first floor and basement of "fully involved" with fire. The 84-year-old property owner who lived on the first floor, and a second-floor tenant, both initially trapped, were rescued by firefighters. Within 30 minutes, at around 1:15 a.m., the blaze became a two-alarm fire, Alston said. Minutes later, a mayday signal: Torres was "lost and disoriented on the second floor," Alston said. Torres and Rankins were found unconscious on the second floor. Alston said rescuers from various fire companies worked under "intense conditions" to get the men out of the house.

Alston said that Torres became a New Haven firefighter in July 2019. Rankins joined the NHFD in February 2018 and was in March promoted to lieutenant.

Two other firefighters — Tyrone Reed and Tyler Skolnik —were hurt. They were treated for those injuries at the hospital and released, Alston said.

McCarthy said the fire department is "grateful for all the donations overwhelming support from across the country."

"It's a tough time for us," he said. When asked how the community can help, he said allowing firefighters to grieve is important.

"If you know a firefighter, reach out to them. But it's important for us to be able to grieve. The outpouring of support is wonderful, but allowing firefighters to come together on their own" is important, he said.

Meanwhile, the calls for service do not stop.

McCarthy said that Wednesday in the immediate aftermath of the deadly fire, New Haven "did rely" on mutual aid from East Haven, West Haven and Hamden. But New Haven firefighters are largely right back to work, save for some who were on the scene of the Valley Street blaze that killed Torres and critically injured Rankins. He said other fire service members are volunteering to cover for those firefighters. And he added that there's been "a lot of support" from professionals and peer support groups.

"Getting the support," McCarthy said, "That's the most important thing."