Authorities Identify Victim In Arlington Condo Fire
ARLINGTON (CBS) – Authorities have identified the person killed in a four-alarm fire at an Arlington condominium complex early Tuesday morning as 47-year-old Wai Cheong Lee.
The man was identified in a joint press statement released Thursday by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan, Arlington fire chief Robert Jefferson and Arlington police chief Fred Ryan.
He died after the fast-moving flames trapped him inside his third-floor unit.
"This fire claimed the life of a man because someone discarded something improperly, most likely a cigarette," Ryan said. "Our thoughts are with the victim's family at this time."
"Mr. Lee died in the middle of night where he should have felt safest – his home," Coan added.
"Our national slogan is 'Fire is Everyone's Fight' and I would ask people to take that to heart and be responsible for fire safety. Everyone. Everyday."
Jefferson and Ryan offered their condolences to the Lee family.
"…Firefighters see first-hand the heart-breaking losses victims of fire suffer when they lose their home and possessions," Jefferson said. "This terrible fire affected so many individuals and the community at large."
Firefighters were called to the Brookside Condominium Complex at Arizona Terrace about 4 a.m.
Thirty-six units were damaged, as well as several vehicles parked nearby.
"We'll all have to find another place to live," resident Ralph Chang told WBZ-TV in an email.
Coan says the building did not have a sprinkler system.
The incident remains under investigation.