Fire officials faulted in blaze that killed Wharton firefighter

[Shana A]

Fire officials faulted in blaze that killed Wharton firefighter
By CINDY HORSWELL
Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle
June 27, 2011, 9:47PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7629025.html

The state fire marshal's investigation into the death of Wharton firefighter Thomas Araguz has found that command staff erred in sending him into an egg farm warehouse inferno last summer since no lives were being threatened.

Araguz, a 30-year-old father of two, died July 4, 2010, when he could not find his way out of the blaze at the Maxim Farm in Boling that processed about a million eggs daily.

The state investigation also found that command staff failed to have a rescue team on standby or to verify radio equipment was properly operating before sending firefighters into the burning building.