Families Of Dallas High-Rise Fire Victims Launch Investigation

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Lawyers representing the families of men killed last week in a fire at Thanksgiving Tower are now launching an independent investigation into the deadly accident. Attorneys and family members claim the deaths could have been prevented.

Their husbands, fathers and brothers were performing a job, but family members say companies put their loved ones in harm's way. Leroy Carrillo, 43, Luis Carrillo, 60, and 36-year-old Oscar Esparza-Romo all died in the fire.

It was one week ago Thursday when the blaze broke out in the basement of the downtown Dallas high-rise.

The three workers were repairing underground air conditioning and heating storage tanks when they were killed.

Dallas Attorney Domingo Garcia now represents the families of those victims. Garcia said the families will hold contractor's and management of the skyscraper accountable, if an independent investigation shows the companies skirted safety requirements to get work complete.

Garcia claims that, "There were no permits, no registration, no training, no equipment. This is gross negligence."

One of the victims, according to family, had no background in the welding duties he performed at the downtown high-rise.

Jose Velasquez, the cousin of one of the victim's, said the families have one goal. "More than anything, we want to prevent things like this from happening again."

So far, attorney Garcia has only helped launch the independent investigation. No lawsuit has been filed.

Both Dallas Fire Rescue and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating the fire.

CBS 11 News contacted Lincoln Properties, the owner of the high-rise, Texas HVAC Installers, the sub-contractor the victims worked for, and Best Mechanical, the company actually hired to clean the tanks. None have responded to the inquiries.

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