HARTFORD -- It's been more than two years since the death of former Hartford firefighter Kevin Bell, and in memory, the department will named a firehouse in his honor.
On Sunday, The Hartford Fire Department Engine 16 held a ceremony to not only honor Bell, but also changed their station name to the "Kevin L. Bell Fire Station."
On October 7, 2014, Bell died when he ran out of air while battling a house fire on Blue Hills Avenue, just a few blocks away from his home station Engine Company 16. Bell, 48, got entangled in a piece of furniture and his air tank ran empty. He died due to lack of breathing gas. His death prompted an investigation surrounding equipment failure.
Bell’s family had filed suit in 2015, saying they were seeking answers about why Bell was left behind for more than eight minutes even though a mayday call had been made by his lieutenant. That case was settled with the city for $350,000.
In a dedication ceremony held last year, Bell was honored by former President Barack Obama and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in Maryland.
