Apartment where firefighters died wasn't legal

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) - Public records show that Bridgeport officials never approved plans for an apartment where two city firefighters died while responding to a blaze last Saturday.

The Connecticut Post reports the three-story home on Elmwood Avenue was built as a two-family house in 1909 and no permits were ever issued to add an apartment on the third floor where 49-year-old Firefighter Michel Baik and 40-year-old Lt. Steven Velasquez died.

It's unlikely officials ever inspected the third-floor to make sure it had proper fire exits, because there were no permits. The cause of Saturday's blaze remains under investigation.

The property's owner, Joan Burnett-McFarlane, who lived at the home, couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday. There's no phone listing for her, and the building was heavily damaged.

Calling hours for Lt. Velazquez are from Noon until 4:00 p.m. at Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Avenue, in Bridgeport on Thursday.

Calling hours for Firefighter Baik will also be on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Abriola Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull.

A fund has been set up by Bridgeport Firefighters Local 834 to help the families.