Toledo fire Capt. Mike Benadum, an expert in firefighting, could not say whether any of the recommendations made in the wake of a 2014 fire that killed two firefighters would have saved their lives.

But, he told a jury in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Friday, there “absolutely” was one contributing factor identified in the investigations that surely would have.

“If this fire had not been intentionally set, Steve and Jamie would be here today,” Captain Benadum told Robert Miller, chief of the criminal division of the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office.

He made his comments at the trial of Ray Abou-Arab, 64, of Oregon, who is charged with aggravated arson and aggravated murder for setting the deadly blaze on Jan. 26, 2014 at 528 Magnolia St.

VIDEO: Toledo Fire Capt. Mike Benadum

Prosecutors allege Mr. Abou-Arab used gasoline to set fire to the apartment building he owned in order to collect a $420,000 insurance policy. Pvts. Stephen Machcinski, 42, and James Dickman, 31, died while fighting the fire.

Captain Benadum told the jury that typically arson fires burn faster, burn quicker, and spread faster than other fires, particularly if ignitable liquids are involved.

Captain Benadum was on the witness stand for much of the day — the fifth full day of testimony in Mr. Abou-Arab’s trial. Mr. Miller and defense attorney Sam Kaplan questioned him thoroughly about what was done that day and what ideally should have been done to avoid firefighter deaths.

Captain Benadum was one of three Toledo fire officers appointed by Fire Chief Luis Santiago to review the fire, which represented the first line-of- duty deaths in the department since 1969. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also did a comprehensive review of the incident.

Asked to summarize the Magnolia Street fire, Captain Benadum said, “I think the best lay term for how we ended up in this situation is, for lack of a better term, a perfect storm.”

Among the many “uncontrollable” factors the day of the deadly fire, he said, was the fact that the North Toledo fire station nearest the fire was closed for renovation; several units were at emergency medical calls or out of service for training, and the Craig Memorial Bridge, which would’ve provided the shortest route for responding crews, was closed.

“Because of the longer distances, that equates to time and allows that fire to grow,” he said.

Mr. Kaplan clarified with Captain Benadum under cross-examination that it was the state Fire Marshal’s Office that concluded the fire was intentionally set. The team that examined firefighters’ and commanders’ tactics that day did not look into cause or origin of the fire, he said.

Fire investigators have not yet testified at the trial, which is expected to continue through next week.

Earlier in the day, Captain Benadum described for the jury the 70 pounds of gear firefighters don for a structure fire. He said that while much of the gear is fire-resistant, it is not fireproof.

A fully outfitted firefighter typically can withstand 15 to 30 seconds in what is considered “flashover” temperatures — 800 degrees to 1,100 degrees — although the lens of the face masks used by the fire department in 2014 could only withstand heat of up to 350 degrees before they would begin to disintegrate, he said.

Now, the captain said, Toledo firefighters have masks designed to withstand a temperature up to 500 degrees.

The jury previously was shown Mr. Machcinski’s and Mr. Dickman’s charred and melted gear.

“Did that withstand the heat?” Mr. Miller asked, holding up Mr. Machcinski’s unrecognizable helmet.

“No it did not,” Captain Benadum replied.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.

First Published May 6, 2017, 5:37 a.m.