Published 4 hours ago •
Updated 4 hours ago
NBC Connecticut
A prayer vigil was held Saturday afternoon for a New Haven firefighter recovering in the hospital following a fatal fire earlier this week.
Family, friends and neighbors all came together at Pitts Chapel Church to wish Lt. Samod Rankins a speedy recovery. Download our mobile app for iOS or Android to get alerts for local breaking news and weather.
He, as well as firefighter Ricardo Torres Jr., were trapped in a house fire on Valley Street on Wednesday. Torres died from his injuries while Rankins suffered critical injuries.
Local
Friday began with the funeral for New Haven firefighter Will McMillian, who died unexpectedly last week. Author: Tony Terzi Updated: 7:23 PM EDT May 14, 2021
NEW HAVEN, Conn The body of firefighter Ricardo Torres was escorted by police and fire from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to New Haven, passing fire HQ here in New Haven on the way to a nearby New Haven funeral home late Friday afternoon.
Friday began with the funeral for New Haven firefighter Will McMillian, who died unexpectedly last week.
It has been a brutal stretch for the department, with McMillian s death May 6 followed on May 12 by a house fire that killed Torres and critically injured Lt. Samod Rankins.
New Haven vigil and prayer service Saturday to honor death of firefighter Ricardo Torres and improving condition of Lt Samod Rankins from house fire Wednesday courant.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from courant.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Published May 13. 2021 11:34PM
NEW HAVEN (AP) Connecticut officials are trying to determine whether hoarding played any role in a house fire that killed a New Haven firefighter and severely injured one of his colleagues, investigators said Thursday.
Firefighter Ricardo Torres Jr. died and Lt. Samod Rankins suffered serious burns after becoming trapped in the burning home on Valley Street early Wednesday morning. Rankins condition was improving, officials said.
Sgt. Paul Makuc, a fire investigator with state police, said during a news conference Thursday that officials were not sure yet whether there were hording conditions or “a lot of accumulation of combustible materials” in the home.