CT - Five die in Stamford Christmas Day fire 2011.12.25

[JusticeMustPrevail]

The container might have been metal and rusted. Maybe an hot ember popped out? If the container was smoldering, then why place it on the foyer floor? A contractor didn't know that this was a dangerous thing?

[HMSHood]

Fireplace Blamed for Deadly Connecticut House Fire
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/27...-safety-chief/

[TGIRecovered]

Originally Posted by JusticeMustPrevail

The container might have been metal and rusted. Maybe an hot ember popped out? If the container was smoldering, then why place it on the foyer floor? A contractor didn't know that this was a dangerous thing?

I can't think of one good reason to leave the bucket of embers inside the house. I am a wimp when it comes to cold weather, and even I would have carried it outside and set it on a non-flammable surface like a driveway or a patio.

[krimekat]

Originally Posted by krimekat

Yule Log Embers Blamed For Fire That Killed Madonna Badger’s Three Kids And Her Parents

They apparently then loaded the embers from the fireplace into a bucket and left it in the foyer before going to bed, an emergency worker told The New York Daily News.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusive...nd-her-parents

[BaileyandBella]

How did the embers fly out of the bucket on their own?

[jjenny]

Originally Posted by TGIRecovered

I can't think of one good reason to leave the bucket of embers inside the house. I am a wimp when it comes to cold weather, and even I would have carried it outside and set it on a non-flammable surface like a driveway or a patio.

You need to dampen them even if you put them outside. But don't put water directly into the fireplace.

[jjenny]

Originally Posted by BaileyandBella

How did the embers fly out of the bucket on their own?

Ever heard of sparks?

[billisbobby]

First let me say I send prayers to this woman; how does one survive loosing their parents and their children? Doing so on Christmas makes it worse imoo.

I imagine the embers popped or sparked and started the fire. imoo

[krimekat]

911 call was released . . .

[jjenny]

Fire was caused by embers not properly disposed. Might have not even been in a bucket, but in a bag. Poor grandpa died trying to save one of the granddaughters.

"Sometime after 3 a.m., embers from the fire place were put into a bag, which was placed in the rear of the house, either by a mudroom or trash area, Callahan said. He added that from the initial investigation, the fire appears to have been “accidental in nature.” "
http://www.thedailystamford.com/news...stmas-day-fire

[panthera]

Originally Posted by TGIRecovered

I can't think of one good reason to leave the bucket of embers inside the house. I am a wimp when it comes to cold weather, and even I would have carried it outside and set it on a non-flammable surface like a driveway or a patio.

Agree. Also, I can't imagine not dousing it with water. Since they were wrapping presents by the fireplace approximately 3:00am, it certainly hadn't even cooled off by the time they went to bed. And sadly, tragedy occurred.

[doubt]

http://www.thedailystamford.com/opin...agedy-stamford

some articles should never be written, let alone actually published. wow.

[angela]

Originally Posted by doubt

http://www.thedailystamford.com/opin...agedy-stamford

some articles should never be written, let alone actually published. wow.

Very poor taste. I agree with the comments. That article needs removed.

[Nova]

Originally Posted by angela

Very poor taste. I agree with the comments. That article needs removed.

I don't really understand. I agree the article isn't Pulitzer material, but the writer does conclude that he was lucky to "have to" work on Christmas while watching his healthy child, that compared to the victims he had nothing to complain about.

He's competing with national and international news outlets, so he decided to focus on the "local angle", that of being a local reporter called out of bed on Christmas morning to cover a local tragedy.

Still not great literature, but I'm not sure why it needs to be censored.

[jjenny]

Originally Posted by panthera

Agree. Also, I can't imagine not dousing it with water. Since they were wrapping presents by the fireplace approximately 3:00am, it certainly hadn't even cooled off by the time they went to bed. And sadly, tragedy occurred.

Unfortunately people do things like that day in and day out. My neighbor's house burned down by a candle. Which shouldn't be left un-attended but obviously people do leave the candles un-attended all the time.

[doubt]

i hope everyone who reads about this tragedy checks their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, buys a safety ladder or two if they have multiple floors, and develops a fire safety plan.

honestly, i can't help but think that "there, but for the grace of god, go i."

[doubt]

Originally Posted by Nova

I don't really understand. I agree the article isn't Pulitzer material, but the writer does conclude that he was lucky to "have to" work on Christmas while watching his healthy child, that compared to the victims he had nothing to complain about.

He's competing with national and international news outlets, so he decided to focus on the "local angle", that of being a local reporter called out of bed on Christmas morning to cover a local tragedy.

Still not great literature, but I'm not sure why it needs to be censored.

i don't believe in censorship so for me, it's out there and the kid needs to suck it up and deal with whatever backlash it brings him. perhaps he'll mature through the process and come out with a stronger piece. then again, many a writer has zero business attempting to pen an editorial.

just out of curiosity, if he'd written the same words in the immediate aftermath of the petite family murders, would that make any difference?

[Reader]

Firefighters offered counseling after deadly fire

http://www.centurylink.net/news/read...1_UNEWS&page=1

A Christmas morning fire that killed a couple and three of their grandchildren was devastating to firefighters who rushed into the engulfed home twice frantically looking for the victims before they were beaten back by the flames.

Stamford officials were offering counseling to the firefighters.


Article has a lot of information on what happened and more about the contractor.

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by doubt

http://www.thedailystamford.com/opin...agedy-stamford

some articles should never be written, let alone actually published. wow.

OMG - that guy should be FIRED stat. So there's an article with HIS picture prominently placed on the cover (not the victims), and him harping on and on about how his Christmas was ruined because of the fire.

I want to vomit. Some people.....

MOO

Mel

[Katrinka]

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...t_comments_tab
This NY Daily News article includes an interview with the contractor. Maybe he's still in shock but the way he underplays this horrific tragedy is odd. Also, I'm not sure when the picture was taken (before or after the fire) but if it was taken after, then I'm kind of speechless that he could smile.

[jjenny]

I am confident the photo is before the tragedy. He has just been released from the hospital (with a knee injury) so I really doubt he is standing up smiling in front of some large buildings for this interview.

[Katrinka]

jjenny, I'm guessing you're right. It's irresponsible journalism to not make a note that the picture is "file" or previously taken.

[jamiect]

Hi, I was born and raised in Stamford and still reside here. My husband is also a 17 yr Stamford firefighter who was supposed to be on duty 12/24, but is on medical leave due to hip surgery. He has spoken to many in the department and this looks like just a tragic accident. We do wonder why someone would empty out the embers around 3am and put them in a bag and leave them near the home. I have a fireplace and have never emptied it out while it was still hot or even warm. Why not just let it smoulder? Many on the department are wondering whether alcohol played into this because of the late hour.

BTW, I am getting the timeline from The Stamford Advocate. I have never heard of the The Daily Stamford.


http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/loca...609.php#page-1

[jjenny]

Embers are supposed to be dampened before disposal.
At first news reports were saying embers were in a bucket, now they are saying they were in a bag-which makes even less sense. I don't think it was done on purpose but fireplace safety rules were apparently not followed.

[CocoChanel]

Originally Posted by jamiect

Hi, I was born and raised in Stamford and still reside here. My husband is also a 17 yr Stamford firefighter who was supposed to be on duty 12/24, but is on medical leave due to hip surgery. He has spoken to many in the department and this looks like just a tragic accident. We do wonder why someone would empty out the embers around 3am and put them in a bag and leave them near the home. I have a fireplace and have never emptied it out while it was still hot or even warm. Why not just let it smoulder? Many on the department are wondering whether alcohol played into this because of the late hour.

BTW, I am getting the timeline from The Stamford Advocate. I have never heard of the The Daily Stamford.


http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/loca...609.php#page-1

Thank you Jamiect for sharing this insight. Please also give your husband our gratitude for the work he does. May he have a smooth recovery from his hip surgery.