New Haven Firefighter Lt. Samod 'Nuke' Rankins Leaves Hospital

NEW HAVEN, CT —Sunday was a good day.

After being hospitalized for nearly two weeks, New Haven fire department Lt. Samod "Nuke" Rankins was released from the Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital.

"Today was a good day. Today we celebrated after what seemed like weeks of sadness and grief," the New Haven Fireman's Benevolent Association wrote on Facebook. "Today Lt. Samod Rankins gained strength after 12 days of healing to be discharged from the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit after receiving care from their outstanding staff of nurses, doctors, social workers, custodial services, nutritionists and many many more to be able to return home. He was greeted by dozens of his friends, family, colleagues, and supporters. We cheered, hugged, smiled and cried. A long road still lies ahead, but together we will persevere. Today was a good day."

The day before, the association had announced Rankins was leaving the hospital: "His grit and determination; along with the faith and prayers from within, from his family, and from the his supporting community have allowed him to regain his strength & health to achieve this goal. It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t been without setbacks. But it has been worth it. He’s coming home, and we couldn’t be more excited and grateful."

Rankins survived the May 12 fire at a home on Valley Street. His brother firefighter Ricardo Torres Jr. died.

The fire broke out in the two-family house around 12:45 a.m. that Wednesday. 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. Minutes later, a mayday signal: Torres was "lost and disoriented on the second floor," New Haven Fire Chief John 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.

Torres became a New Haven firefighter in July 2019.

Rankins joined the NHFD in February 2018 and was in March promoted to lieutenant.

Torres was laid to rest Friday.

Firefighters and other first responders from across the state and nation were there to say their final goodbyes to the hero firefighter.

Read more here>> New Haven Mourns Loss Of Firefighter, Prays For Another