Official: South Side blaze that left firefighter dead was accidental

A blaze at a vacant South Side warehouse that left Chicago firefighter Daniel Capuano dead in December was set off by a construction worker and deemed accidental, the fire department announced Wednesday.

Daniel Capuano, a 15-year veteran of the department, was killed while battling a blaze at a vacant warehouse at 9213 S. Baltimore on Dec. 14.

The fire was caused by a construction worker using an arc welder that touched off insulation, according to Fire Media Affairs. The blaze was determined to be accidental.

Capuano, who was assigned to Tower Ladder 34, fell through an elevator shaft in the three-story warehouse after firefighters responded to the blaze just before 3 a.m., officials said at the time.

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