Steven Velasquez, Lt.; Michel Baik, Firefighter - Bridgeport FD., Bridgeport, CT
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities:
Name: Steven Velasquez
Rank: Lieutenant
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 16+
Date of Incident: 07/24/2010
Time of Incident: 1553hrs
Date of Death: 07/24/2010
Name: Michel Baik
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 2
Date of Incident: 07/24/2010
Time of Incident: 1553hrs
Date of Death: 07/24/2010
Fire Department: Bridgeport Fire Department
Address: 30 Congress ST, Bridgeport, CT 06604
Fire Department Chief: Brian Rooney
Incident Description: Lieutenant Velasquez and Firefighter Baik were operating on the third floor of a burning residential structure performing search and rescue and ventilating the house when they became caught and trapped. After "mayday" calls were made, the two firefighters were recovered within a matter of minutes by the fire department's rapid intervention team and CPR was administered at the scene. Both firefighters died from injuries sustained in the incident. Lieutenant Velasquez was pronounced dead at St. Vincent’s Medical Center and Firefighter Baik was pronounced dead at Bridgeport Hospital.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office. Officials suspect the fire broke out in a second floor apartment. Three other firefighters were taken to the hospital. One had a broken ankle and the other two were treated for heat exhaustion.
Incident Location: 41 Elmwood Avenue
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Lieutenant Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michel Baik at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
To date, 46 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2010; 44 from incidents that occurred in 2010 and 2 from previous year incidents.