Man Dies In Bridgeport, Connecticut House Fire

Oct. 8, 2004
A man in his 50s died Thursday night in a fire that trapped him on the second floor of his home.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- A man in his 50s died Thursday night in a fire that trapped him on the second floor of his home.

Jerry Lengen was taken to Bridgeport Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Assistant Fire Chief Robert Petrucelli said.

The fire on High Ridge Drive was reported at 8:39 p.m. by a 911 caller who said the first floor of half the duplex was ablaze.

Witnesses said Lengen was leaning out the second-floor window screaming for help, Petrucelli said. The building's landlord - a neighbor whose name was not released - tried unsuccessfully to get Lengen to jump out the window.

Petrucelli said there was no sign of any working smoke detectors.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation

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