Stamford Fire Dept. tapes released from deadly fire

December 29, 2011

You can hear the desperation in the voices of those who are at the scene on that fateful Christmas morning, watching an inferno destroy an old Victorian-style home and, in the process, a family as well. It's clear that by the time firefighters arrived at the scene, there was simply no way they felt they could get in to rescue those trapped inside.

We'll have the tapes tonight at 11, as well as the latest into the investigation of the fire that killed 3 kids and their two grandparents.

Also at 11, some fascinating international stories drawing our attention tonight.

The first comes from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who suggests that his cancer and the cancers of other left-leaning leaders in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay are "very very strange. Would it be so strange that they've invented the technology to spread cancer and we won't know about it for 50 years?"

And "they've" in this case refers to the U.S.

The response was swift from the State Department: The statements are "horrific and reprehensible."

The other fascinating item comes from the Far East, or at least the Far East Side of Manhattan. And it comes in the form of the United Nations flag at half-staff at its headquarters overlooking the East River.

The flag lowered in memory of Kim Jong Il, one of the world's most repressive political leaders.

The debate is over whether it's appropriate for the U.N. to acknowledge Kim, given his history, and given that his own country never really acknowledged him as the head of state. And half-staff flags at the U.N. are reserved for heads of state.

We're also taking a closer look at a new test that measures whether someone is actually having a heart attack and measures it earlier than any other test.

We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Meteorologist Lee Goldberg with his AccuWeather forecast, and Laura Behnke (in for Rob Powers) with the night's sports. I hope you can join Sade Baderinwa and me tonight at 11.

BILL RITTER

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