NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - A Connecticut firefighter who died battling a house
blaze in New Haven will be remembered and honored during funeral and burial
services Thursday.
Thousands of firefighters from other departments are expected to be in New
Haven to pay their respects to Ricardo Torres Jr., who died May 12 after
becoming trapped in the burning house. Another city firefighter, Lt. Samod
Rankins, was severely injured in the blaze.
A procession of firefighters, flag holders, fire department equipment and a New
York Fire Department pipe and drum band was planned Thursday morning before a
private funeral at St. Mary Church.
Torres will then be brought to Hartford via Interstate 91 to buried in the
historic Cedar Hill Cemetery, the final resting place of actress Katharine
Hepburn, financier John Pierpont Morgan and gunmaker Samuel Colt.
Authorities plan to close some roads in New Haven and Hartford for the
processions.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire investigators have said
they were trying to determine whether hoarding played any role in the fire and
in Torres and Rankins becoming trapped. Two other firefighters suffered less
serious injuries.
Firefighters rescued an 84-year-old woman and a man from the house.
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