1982 — July 5, Arson Fire, Apartment Building, Waterbury, CT — 14
— 14 Leagle.com. “State v. Madera (13198) 210 Conn. 22 (1989).” Released 2-14-1989.
— 14 National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. 1983, p. 138..
— 14 NFPA. The U.S. Fire Problem. Home Fires with Ten or More Fatalities (1980-2007). 2008.
— 14 Republican-American (A. Larson), Waterbury, CT. “Deadly fire remembered.” 7-5-2012.
Narrative Information
Larson (Republican-American): “Waterbury — The deadliest fire in the city’s history happened 30 years ago today. Those who responded to the frantic scene, a burning five-story apartment building at 47 Prospect St., hope that improvements to fire safety codes will prevent such a tragedy from happening again. But three decades years later, the 14 people killed in the blaze on July 5, 1982 still deserve to be remembered. ‘I just don’t want those people to be forgotten,’ said Marty Egan, then a police detective assigned to the fire marshal’s office. ‘It’s something I’ll never forget as long as I live.’ He recalled spending weeks sifting through rubble, trying to identify victims. Police and fire officials determined that the blaze killed at least 14 people, but a full accounting was difficult because most tenants spoke only Spanish and many were away for the holiday. More than 100 people were inside the building at the time.
“The fire was the result of arson. Police caught Israel Madera as he fled from the scene. He was later convicted of arson murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Police at the time said he set the fire after a dispute with a relative. The relative at whom the fire was targeted survived. Madera died in prison in December 2006, at the age of 54, just one year before the 25th anniversary of the disaster.
“Egan, who said the fire was one of the worst in the city’s history, said residents of the apartment had blockaded their back doors to prevent burglaries. Many ended up trapped.
“Also, the building lacked smoke detectors, sprinklers, an alarm system and other safety measures that would have kept the fire from spreading as quickly. And there was no elevator. Egan said the city has “absolutely” learned lessons from the fire, and has since strengthened fire codes and beefed up enforcement. Some of the changes have been made at the local level; others are state laws. Now, all high-rise apartments are required to have fire sprinkler and alarm systems, he said….At the time, he said, police, fire and health inspections occurred less frequently – usually only after someone made a complaint. Now, those inspections are done on a regular basis, he said. Also, he credits a change in people’s mindset toward smoke detectors….” (Republican-American (Andrew Larson), Waterbury, CT. “Deadly fire remembered.” 7-5-2012.)
Sources
Leagle.com. “State v. Madera (13198) 210 Conn. 22 (1989).” Released 2-14-1989. Accessed 5-11-2017 at: http://www.leagle.com/decision/1989232210Conn22_1230/STATE%20v.%20MADERA
National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 1983.
National Fire Protection Association. The U.S. Fire Problem. “Home Fires with Ten or More Fatalities (1980-2007).” Quincy, MA: NFPA, April 2008 update. Accessed at: http://www.nfpa.org:80/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=953&itemID=30981&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20statistics/The%20U.S.%20fire%20problem
Republican-American (Andrew Larson), Waterbury, CT. “Deadly fire remembered.” 7-5-2012. Accessed 5-11-2017 at: http://archives.rep-am.com/2012/07/05/deadly-fire-remembered/