David Kostrey, the deputy director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management, died Wednesday morning attempting to rescue his dog as his Derby Avenue apartment burned, his sister said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Derby detectives, the local fire marshal and the state’s fire marshal office were investigating what caused the fire, which was reported on the second floor of the two-family house at 196 Derby Ave. at about 2:30 a.m.
Kostrey, 57, and his sister, Joann Raytar, 39, were inside the apartment when the blaze started.
Raytar, 39, said her brother saved her life.
“He woke me up. He was trying to deal with what was happening. I came over and took a look at what was going on. The smoke and everything just got out of hand,” Raytar said. “I told him we had to get out of there. We went to the hallway by the exit stairs. I went down and out — but he wasn’t behind me. He had gone back for the family dog,” she said.
Raytar tried to go back into the house to yell for her brother.
“You couldn’t get two steps inside the door way,” Raytar said. “It was very, very hot. In only a few seconds you could not breath anymore.”
Raytar said she did not know how the fire started.
The medical examiner’s office said Kostrey died from smoke inhalation. His death has been ruled an accident.
Firefighters received a 911 call from the residence reporting a problem, but the caller was cut off before she could fully explain the situation, fire Chief Jim Butler said. Police on the scene confirmed it was a working fire.
Neighbor Frank Lazowski, Sr. said he woke up at about 2:30 a.m. He saw flashing lights, looked out his window and saw flames shooting out of the attic, touching an electrical line.
“My daughter thought she heard an explosion. It sounded like a car hit something,” Lazowski said.
Firefighters encountered intense flames on the second floor.
“Upon our entry, it was lit up pretty good. The second floor was fully involved,” Butler said.
After battling the blaze from the outside, firefighters gained entry to the house through a second-story window.
The family living in the first-floor apartment escaped unharmed.
Raytar suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation.
Kostrey’s body was found on the second floor, in the rear of the apartment, Derby police spokesman Lt. Sal Frosceno said.
The family’s dog did not make it out.
Kostrey lived in Derby for about 20 years, Raytar said. He worked as an information technology specialist, including at U.S. Surgical. His volunteer activities ranged from the Red Cross to Beardsley Zoo.
“He really loved technology, whether it was radio or computers. He was really good at what he did. He also liked helping other people,” his sister said.
Kostrey was an avid amateur radio operator, which brought him into contact with Vin Vizzo, the director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management.
Both Vizzo and Kostrey’s positions are voluntary.
“He donated his services to the city to run the emergency management system we have,” Vizzo said. “He was a very giving person. When someone needed help, he would help them. He would not hesitate.”
Services for Kostrey have been scheduled for Friday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the McDonald Funeral Home in Stratford.
The following is our report from 10 a.m.:
One person is dead after a fire on Derby Avenue overnight.
The man’s name was not immediately available, but officials said he lived in the second story of a two-family house at 196 Derby Ave.
Derby police spokesmen Lt. Sal Frosceno said firefighters found the body of a 57-year-old man in a room in the rear portion of the second floor.
A female resident of the second floor sustained minor burns and smoke inhalation, Frosceno said. She was taken to Griffin Hospital.
As of 10 a.m., there was no word on what caused the fire.
The first 911 call in from the residence came in at about 2:30 a.m., firefighters said. The person reporting the fire was cut off before fully explaining what was happening.
“Initially we didn’t know what the call was,” fire Chief Jim Butler said. “Upon the arrival of the (police department), they notified us that they had heavy smoke coming from the apartment.”
Firefighters encountered intense fire on the second floor.
“Upon our entry, it was lit up pretty good. The second floor was fully involved,” Butler said.
The chief said three people in the first floor apartment were able to get out, as was a woman from the second floor, who was taken to the hospital.
Firefighters pulled out the man living on the second floor. Fire crews had to get into the house through a window on the second floor.
“There were a lot of contents inside,” Butler said.
A dog — and what firefighters believe was a cat — also died in the fire, officials said.
The house had smoke detectors, Butler said. Firefighters could hear them sounding as they arrived at the scene.
In addition to the Derby Fire Marshal’s Office, the state Fire Marshal’s Office is at the scene investigating.
Neighbor Frank Lazowski, Sr. said he woke up at about 2:30 a.m. because his dogs were barking at the commotion outside. He looked out his window and saw flames shooting from the attic of the house, touching electrical lines on the street.
“My daughter thought she heard an explosion. It sounded like a car hit something,” Lazowski said.
Lazowski said the first-floor residents — a man, woman and baby — did not appear to be injured.
“They had a little baby. I told them if they wanted to come into my house, they could. Upstairs, the man’s sister got out,” Lazowski said.
Lazowski said the second-floor resident was named “Dave.” He wasn’t sure of a last name.
“I saw when they pulled him out, he was not breathing,” Lazowski said.
The Red Cross responded to offer assistance. The first-floor family went with relatives after the fire.
“The Derby fire marshal and the detective bureau here at the police department are working in conjunction with the state’s fire marshal on this investigation. They remain on scene as we speak,” Frosceno said at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The house in question was 2.5 stories and made of wood-frame construction. Ansonia firefighters were called in to provide fire coverage in case another call came for Derby.
— Vanessa Inzitari contributed to this report.
