HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) The family of a Hartford firefighter who died when he ran out of air while battling a house fire last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city.

Paul Levin, a lawyer for Kevin Bell's wife and brother, says the scene commander waited more than eight minutes to send a rescue team to look for Bell after he transmitted a muffled call for help on Oct. 7, 2014.

He says once inside, the team located Bell in 20 seconds.

State safety investigators found the city had failed to properly maintain and test the air tanks Bell was using.

The 48-year-old Bell was the first city firefighter to die in the line of duty in four decades.

Messages seeking comment from the city on Thursday were not immediately returned.