NEW HAVEN — Fire Chief John Alston Jr. said there were smoke alarms in the large West Street home where two tenants perished and four firefighters were injured in a fire early Monday morning, but it was not known whether the alarms were working. Alston said the smoke alarms were located throughout what is listed on city records as a 21/2-story home, “but whether they were effective or working still remains under investigation.” The injuries to the firefighters ranged from heat exhaustion, physical exhaustion, dehydration, back strain and a dislocated shoulder, Alston said. All four were treated and released from the hospital. In a news conference Monday afternoon at City Hall, the chief said his understanding, at this point in the investigation, is that after water lines were put in place, fire personnel were told two adult males still were on the third floor of the structure, cut off by the fire. “They had to make a decision to assist those residents who were jumping” to escape the flames, Alston said. One report said there were 16 people living in the house. Alston said his department, in conjunction with the state fire marshal’s office, is continuing to investigate the use of the building — whether it was serving as a rooming house — and the department’s response. Mayor Toni Harp, earlier in the day on WNHH radio, offered her condolences to the family members of the two deceased tenants and praised the actions of the firefighters, whom she called “heroes.” She said this kind of tragedy not only demonstrates their skills, but also shows the physical and emotional toll it takes on them. “What if they had gotten there later?” Harp asked. She said there would have been a greater loss of life without the quick response. The mayor wants her staff to take a look at the building and how it was transformed into this unsafe space. She said those changes are the reason people lost their lives. Land records show the landlord, at least until recently, Dorjan Jashari of Yonkers, N.Y., had initiated a number of eviction actions against tenants at properties he owned in New Haven. In one case, a year ago, as first reported in the New Haven Independent, Tammie Brunson wrote in her complaint that she withheld her $500 monthly rent for the “first room on the left” on the first floor at 150 West St. because Jashari was not providing heat and would not fix anything until the city’s Livable City Initiative was called. She wrote that Jashari allegedly would put pepper spray in the cabinets, which would aggravate her asthma, something he would do at night when they were cooking. She wrote that drugs also allegedly were being dealt out of the house, but the landlord didn’t care. At the news conference, Alston said once the fire was tamped down, firefighters searched the third level and administered resuscitation efforts to the two men at the scene. They were pronounced dead at the hospital. Residents reported that they did not hear a working smoke alarm on Sunday. Fire Mashal Robert Doyle said the report of the fire was sounded at 3:20 a.m. Sunday, with engines arriving in four minutes. He said putting the pieces together to determine the origin of the fire would take some time and he asked for everyone’s patience. Alston said reports that it was an illegal rooming house were under investigation. He said the two exits were adequate if the use was as a 2-family house, not a rooming house. There was only one exit from the third floor where two tenants died. The chief said when firefighters arrive at the scene of a fire, many times tenants being taken from the building cannot communicate with them. He said one of the victims, who was among several who jumped, was in critical condition. There were a total of five people on the third floor, with three escaping. He said one of the “victims who was on the third floor exercised extreme heroism under extreme conditions. He warned people, banged on doors and advised them to get out. We appreciate his efforts.” Alston said the Fire Department was “going through a tough time,” not only because of the stress of the fire, but they were headed late Monday afternoon to the wake of longtime Firefighter George Browne, 46; his funeral is scheduled for Tuesday. “We are in the business of saving lives, not losing them,” Alston said, explaining the understandable stress of the day. “It has impacted the department greatly.” The fire chief was asked whether there was a concern, given the lack of affordable housing in the region, with people crowding into inappropriate buildings. “Absolutely,” Alston said. He said the overcrowding could be attributed to emergencies such as the fire, as well as economics and large families. He said given that it is listed as a two-family, it would not fall under the guidelines under which the department would normally inspect it. Alston said if the public knows of these situations, they should report them to fire officials Alston said all the departments who have some jurisdiction in housing have come together and will review their records on the property. A source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed Monday that residents reported that an alarm did not sound. . The third floor was hard for firefighters to reach because the only access was an “extremely narrow” stairwell in the back, Assistant Chief Orlando Marcano said. The cause of death for the two tenants was not released by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Monday. . Firefighters who carried victims from the building suffered a dislocated shoulder and back injury, Alston said. The Red Cross announced it was helping five families, totaling nine people, providing both short-term and long-term assistance. The Livable City Initiative will help relocate people after the fire, according to Alder Evelyn Rodriguez, D-4. The building, according to property records, is a 21/2-story home for two families with nine rooms, including five bedrooms. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com; mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577<doc-sep>NORTH HAVEN — Two juveniles have been charged in a suspicious fire early last month, police said Thursday. The two juveniles — who were not identified since they are minors — each was charged with reckless burning, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and criminal trespass.<doc-sep>Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.<doc-sep>
NEW HAVEN — Family members of two people reportedly killed in Sunday’s fire at 150 West St. have come forward to express their sorrow and attempt to raise money to help pay for funeral expenses of their loved ones. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had not released the names of those who died as of 2 p.m. Tuesday. WTNH identified the deceased individuals as Corey Reed and Michael Randall in stories Tuesday. A staffer with the ME’s office said they had no record of a Corey Reed or Michael Randall being examined at this time. But Clarise Randall said Tuesday that Michael, her twin brother, always had a smile on his face, even in times of stress, and routinely strove to help others, even in his last moments. His sister, Lillian Robinson, said on her GoFundMe page that Randall died after trying to get others out of the fire “He was just an amazing, amazing soul,” said Randall. “He died a hero.” Corey Reed “was so sweet, and caring” and “loved by many,” his mother, Shirley, said on her GoFundMe page. “Being that he was apart of the LGBT community. Everyone loved him the same, and no different,” said Shirley Reed. “Any donations will be greatly accepted, and appreciated. To give Corey an enlightened homegoing to match his bright, and outgoing spirit.” Reed did not immediately return a request for comment. Randall said her brother had been living in the home in order to stay close to his son, who was soon to graduate high school, but he was searching for a new place. Fire Chief John Alston Jr. said Monday that there were smoke alarms in the large West Street home, but it was not known whether the alarms were working. Alston said his department, with the state fire marshal’s office, is continuing to investigate use of the building — whether it was serving as a rooming house — and the department’s response. Randall said the home had clear issues, including deficient electricity that required extension cords to be strung throughout the place and a single exit down a narrow staircase. John L. Farrar, a New York man, purchased the home in March, according to records compiled by the city clerk’s office. “Our goal is to find answers,” said Randall. “How could this house have sold recently without an inspection?... we want someone to be held accountable.” Michael Randall had previously complained to the city about the conditions in the residence, she said. He had a disability, she said, but ran into trouble navigating the programs that were available to find an alternative. “I just feel like the system failed him and the city of New Haven failed him,” said Clarise Randall. “My brother could be alive today.” Now, Clarise Randall is left to move forward without her twin. They talked daily, visited regularly; her daughter and he were close. “I don’t know how I’m going to deal with this. I just don’t... I feel like half of my body has been cut off,” said Clarise Randall. “Shame on the landlord. Shame on the owners of this house. Shame on them. Shame on the city of New Haven.” william.lambert@hearstmediact.com