By THERESA CONROY
Causing the deaths of two Philadelphia firefighters has been a “nightmare” for Daniel Brough.
Reading hesitantly from a written statement, Brough, whose marijuana cultivation ignited the deadly blaze, said yesterday that he was “truly sorry.”
“This had to be more of a nightmare than anything I had to deal with in my life,” Brough said. "... With my entire heart I regret that [Capt.] John Taylor and firefighter Rey Rubio lost their lives fighting a fire in my home.”
Common Pleas Judge David Savitt sentenced Brough, 37, to 7 ½ months to two years in prison for causing a catastrophe, for two counts of involuntary manslaughter and for possession with intent to deliver.
After the sentencing hearing, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said, “I’m looking at it and I’m just happy that justice was served.
“I hope this is closure for the family,” added Ayers, who attended the court proceeding. “It was a little unusual. You look over and look at the [Brough] family... you have to stop and look at the faces of those innocent people.”
Relatives of Brough, Rubio and Taylor told Savitt during the hearing how the fire and deaths had impacted their lives. During statements from the victims’ families, tender portraits were drawn of the dead firefighters.
Rubio, 42, of North Philadelphia, was one of 10 children who arrived in the United States from Cuba when he was 6. He loved soap operas and sports. He loved his family and his job. He showed unusual kindness in high school to an unpopular girl. He en- joyed playing basketball.
Taylor, 53, of Northeast Philadelphia, had three sisters. He coached Little League and used to vacation with his family in Ocean City. He was fit and athletic, always running and riding his bicycle. He loved the Fire Department.
Rubio and Taylor were asphyxiated while fighting the Aug. 20, 2004, blaze inside Brough’s home on Belgrade Street in Port Richmond. Rubio was caught in the basement during the blaze. Taylor tried to save him.
Brough used a 1,000-watt bulb to transform a wooden basement closet into a hothouse for his marijuana plants. The bulb was so hot that it scorched the plants, eventually igniting the fire.
“He’s a drug dealer who killed two firefighters,” prosecutor Ed Cameron said. “It wasn’t intentional - that’s reflected in the verdict - but it’s still the same thing... Two firefighters were killed trying to save him, his property, his dogs.”
Philadelphia Daily News (http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/)