According to the media report, the 60 page report identifies significant issues by the Bridgeport FD that may have led to their deaths. The report echoes the findings of an earlier one from the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration. But the NIOSH report goes into far greater detail concerning how the department responded to the fire and the factors that contributed to FF Baik’s and Lt. Velasquez’s deaths.
According to the media interpretation of the NIOSH report, the 40-year-old Velasquez and the 49-year-old Baik, along with two other Firefighters, had been assigned to conduct a search for victims and hot spots on the third floor of the multifamily house. The fire already had been extinguished on the second floor.
While the two were pulling the walls and ceiling on the third floor, the fire suddenly reignited. Velasquez transmitted a mayday that was not acknowledged or acted on. Minutes later, the incident commander ordered an evacuation of the third floor. As a Firefighter exited the third floor he discovered Lt. Velasquez sitting on the stairs unconscious and not breathing. FF Baik was found about seven minutes later on the third floor in heavy smoke conditions.
