Tom Cleary, Staff Writer
Updated 11:52 p.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2011
BRIDGEPORT -- Investigators returned Tuesday to the scene of a fire on Highland Avenue that killed a 7-year-old boy to determine how the blaze began.
The probe is being led by troopers from the state fire marshal's office, according to State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance. Bridgeport police and the city fire marshal's office are also participating in the investigation. Detectives from the Bridgeport police said it was too early to disclose any information related to their investigation on the fire that killed Kyle Jean-Baptiste early Monday morning.
The state's chief medical examiner's office ruled Tuesday that Jean-Baptiste died of smoke inhalation and that the death was accidental.
Investigators are trying to piece together why Jean-Baptiste was trapped in his bedroom as the fire raged around him.
Fire officials didn't say whether there were working smoke detectors in the home. A check of city records didn't reveal any code violations at the three-family home, which is owned by Kyle Jean-Baptiste's grandmother, Leonante Jean-Baptiste, according to assessor's records. She purchased the 107-year-old home with her now-deceased husband, Joel Jean-Baptiste, in 1987. Everyone who lives in the house is related in some way, firefighters said.
A second-grader at the New Beginnings Family Academy charter school in Bridgeport, Kyle was trapped in his bedroom as it filled with smoke and flames. Firefighters rushed to his rescue upon arrival just after 5 a.m. Monday, but Assistant Chief Dominick Carfi said the fire was too intense outside of Kyle's room for the initial crews to save the boy. Family members had attempted to get the boy out of the room, but also couldn't reach him. An investigator, who didn't want to be identified, said the family unsuccessfully tried to put out the fire with a garden hose.
Kyle was found by firefighters after they brought a hose to the third-floor room and knocked down the flames. He was found underneath his mattress. Carfi said the fire was mainly in the third-floor apartment that Kyle shared with his mother, but was not able to state where the blaze began.
Family members gathered Monday throughout the day at the house, comforting each other.
At New Beginnings, teachers said Kyle was a gifted and talented student who loved learning. He had attended the school since kindergarten. The executive director of the school, Ronelle Swagerty, said Kyle liked to play football and was in the top group in all his subjects.
Kyle's step-grandfather, Joseph Albert, said he was always happy and smiling, and loved to play.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Staff writers Brittany Lyte, Daniel Tepfer and Linda Conner Lambeck contributed to this report. Tom Cleary can be reached at 203-540-9827 or by email at tcleary@ctpost.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomwcleary.
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