Smoke Inhalation Blamed for Dallas Skyscraper Fire Deaths

Investigators have determined what killed three construction workers in a fire in the basement of a Dallas, Texas, skyscraper.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s office found smoke inhalation killed 36-year-old Oscar Esparza-Romo, 43-year-old Leroy Carrillo-Solorzano and Carrillo’s uncle, 60-year-old Nicacio Carrillo-Martinez.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration says the three were cleaning four water tanks in the basement of the 50-story Thanksgiving Tower on Thursday and were using a torch to cut rusted and corroded parts from a 30-foot-deep tank when it caught fire.

The tank is part of the building’s heating, ventilating and air conditioning unit.