Homeless Man Hospitalized After Fire in Vacant Bridgeport Building

Officials believe a man who suffered serious burns during a fire in Bridgeport this morning was homeless and set the fire to stay warm.

Police officer Ferdinand Ferrao Jr.  noticed smoke in the air around 3:30 a.m. on Friday. He followed it to a vacant commercial building at 1150 Main St. and heard a man, identified as 47-year-old Javier Berrios, calling for help, according to police. 

Ferrao and other officers tried several times to reach the Berrios, but there was a locked metal security gate at the door.

Firefighters got to him by using "cutting tools." Berrios suffered serious burns and was taken to Bridgeport Hospital.

The fire started on the second floor and firefighters had to navigate a narrow passageway to get to the room where the fire started.

Firefighters said they've been seeing more cases like this because of the extreme cold.

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