New details emerge on Stamford fire

Stamford, Conn. (WTNH) - New details haven been released in the tragic Christmas day fire that killed three little girls and their grandparents in Stamford.

Firefighters were inside the government center handing out free smoke detectors to the public to make sure what happened on Christmas day never happens to anyone else in the city.

WCBS reported that prior to the fire at Madonna Badger's house on Christmas day, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers had been removed from the house and put in the garage while painters worked on the inside of the house.

News 8 asked Stamford's fire chief about that report and he said it was the first he was hearing about it.

The fire chief says it's too soon to know, the investigation is still open and active.

On Thursday, the focus was on preventing future tragedies and making sure everyone has access to working smoke detector.

It's the first of many smoke detector giveaways they'll be hosting throughout the city.

Officials say the rule of thumb is there should be one smoke detector per bedroom and one on each floor of house.

Firefighters say while they can't change the tragic events of Christmas morning they can through this public safety campaign help save lives in future.

"Somebody put it to me well. They said, 'Well how do you know that these smoke detectors are gonna save my life.'' said Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia. "I said, 'We'll never know that, we're gonna assume that they will.' And therein lies the best possible outcome."

WCBS also reported the girl's father hired a private investigator to investigate the fire. Pavia confirmed he knew there was a private investigator but said he didn't know who hired him.

The fire chief says he's not putting a time stamp on when report will be done, it could take weeks or months.