Officials Identify Victim of Massive Condo Complex Fire

Officials have released the identity of the man who perished in the four-alarm fire that decimated the Brookside Condominium Complex in Arlington early Tuesday morning.

Wai Cheong Lee, 47, authorities say, was trapped inside his apartment by the inferno outside his door.

“Mr. Lee died in the middle of night where he should have felt safest – his home,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan in a statement.

“Our national slogan is ‘Fire is Everyone’s Fight’ and I would ask people to take that to heart, and be responsible for fire safety. Everyone. Everyday.”

It is said the fire was started by a cigarette improperly disposed by nearby a pile of mulch outside the complex at approximately 4 a.m., Tuesday. The fire spread to the building and quickly escalated into a major blaze that destroyed or damaged at least 36 condo units.

At 8:30 a.m. that day, firefighters were still struggling to douse what remained of the flames.

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Image Credit: WHDH Channel 7