2 CT firefighters perish, probe begins

Bridgeport, Conn. (WTNH) - While the city of Bridgeport and those close to Lieutenant Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michel Baik mourn, the state police and state fire marshal's office focus on the why and how of Saturday's tragedy.

Elaine Ficarra, spokeswoman for Mayor Bill Finch, said Sunday the two state agencies and city officials are investigating the fire Saturday that killed 40-year-old Lieutenant Steven Velasquez and 49-year-old Firefighter Michel Baik.

“We have suffered a grievous loss,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “We lost two of our best firefighters in a department made up of terrific firefighters."

In a Sunday morning news conference, Bridgeport Fire Department’s Chief Brian Rooney said, “Our department experienced our worst nightmare, we loss two of our bravest firefighters."

Bridgeport firefighters were called to the three-story house at 41 Elmwood Avenue at around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Three other firefighters were treated at Bridgeport and St. Vincent hospitals and released, Fire Captain Ed McCann told the Associated Press Saturday.

Lt. Velasquez, a 16-year veteran, and Baik, a two-and-a-half-year firefighter, were doing what Chief Rooney calls "routine ventilation" and checking for hot spots before sending out mayday calls and eventually being found unconscious on the top floor of the three-story house.

Efforts to revive them using CPR were unsuccessful, and they were pronounced dead at area hospitals.

No residents of the house were injured, but they were displaced as a result of the fire.

Although there are no definitive answers yet, what Chief Brian Rooney does know is Bridgeport has dozens if not hundreds of turn of the century homes with the same balloon construction.

He explained, “The walls open up like a chimney on both sides and if you have a fire in the basement of any floor; it takes off quite rapidly.

“This fire apparently had some sort of head start before we got there and it was in the walls. It was in the ceilings.

“The last we know is that the two firefighters were up on the third floor pulling down the ceilings and that's the last that we heard from them."

The chief medical examiner's office says autopsies will likely be performed Monday.

Chief Rooney says the three other firefighters injured during the blaze in Elmwood Street are okay and are ready and soon will be back on duty.

Governor Jodi Rell ordered Sunday that all U.S. and state flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of the two Bridgeport firefighters until the funerals, which have not been set.

Lt. Velasquez is survived by his wife and two children. FF Baik is survived by his wife and three children.

Visit the BFD's Facebook page : If anyone wishes to express condolences and support with gifts, flowers, etc., a unofficial memorial is established at the West End Fire Station of Engine 7/Ladder 11 at 245 Ocean Terrace in Bridgeport.

The Bridgeport Police Department has asked the public not to visit the scene of the fatality as visitors are interfering with the investigation in progress.

The last Bridgeport firefighter to die on the job was in 1999.