Conn. city settles suit in fatal 2005 fire

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — The city of Bridgeport is settling a lawsuit filed by a Vietnamese immigrant whose young family was killed in a 2005 apartment fire.

The Connecticut Post reports that the amount of the settlement with Rinh Thach wasn't available Thursday.

Thach's 35-year-old wife, 14-year-old son and two daughters, ages 11 and 3, were killed in the blaze. Thach had to be dragged away by emergency workers after trying to re-enter the building to save his family.

Subsequent investigation showed the apartment had no smoke detectors, barred windows and that a possible escape route was nailed shut.

Thach sued the city, charging the fire marshal failed to make inspections that could have prevented the deaths. Jury selection was scheduled for March.

Thach's landlord pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in 2006 and received a suspended sentence.