Firefighters Identify Person Killed in New Britain Structure Fire

Police have identified the person killed in a structure fire on Schultz Street in New Britain Saturday evening.

Michael P. Tocoinis, 56, of New Britain, died in the fire at his home.

The blaze broke out at 50 Schultz Street, a single story building, and crews arrived at about 7:23 p.m. Crews"began an aggressive interior fire attack on the front porch fire" and searched the home to see if anyone was inside, New Britain fire officials said.

The fire was confined to the front porch and firefighters knocked it down quickly, New Britain Fire Chief Thomas Ronalter said.

"Unfortunately that was where the occupant was located, on the front porch," he said.

Tocoinis was found dead on the porch. No one else was injured. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is doing an autopsy on the body.

No firefighters were injured and no one else was home at the time of the fire.

There was severe smoke damage to other parts of the building.

New Britain's police chief, fire chief and Mayor Erin Stewart responded, as well as state police.

Fire marshals from New Britain and the state, as well as New Britain Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division are investigating what caused the fire and where it specifically started.

Those agencies have become involved because of the fatality, Ronalter said. The fire doesn't appear to be suspicious or criminal, but it remains under investigation.

Investigators will notify the family once the body is properly identified.

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