LODD: Bridgeport Firefighters Killed During Afternoon Fire

Investigation Ongoing To Determine What Went Wrong

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Two firefighters died while battling a house fire Saturday afternoon, Bridgeport officials said.

The two men were found unconscious on the top floor of the three-story house after they sent out mayday calls, Deputy Fire Chief Robert Petrucelli said.

Efforts to revive them using CPR were unsuccessful, and they were pronounced dead at hospitals, Mayor Bill Finch said at a news conference.

They were identified as Lt. Steven Velazquez and Michael Baik, 49, said Elaine Ficarra, a spokeswoman for Finch. Velazquez’ age wasn’t available immediately.

The fire was reported sometime between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Velazquez and Baik were searching for people in need of rescue and ventilating the house, Petrucelli said.

Baik had been a firefighter for two years, and Velazquez, a neighbor of the mayor, was promoted to lieutenant in February, Finch said. Both men had young children, he said.

“Bridgeport is mourning the loss of two of its bravest,” Finch said in a statement. “I urge you all to pray for the firefighters and their families during this most trying time.”

No residents were injured, but three or four other firefighters were treated at hospitals for their injuries and released, Fire Capt. Ed McCann said.

The state fire marshal’s office will investigate the cause of the fire and examine the equipment used by Velazquez and Baik, Finch said.

He requested all flags on city buildings to fly at half-staff.

The last time a firefighter died in Bridgeport in the line of duty was March 18, 1999, according to the mayor’s office.

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