The incident occurred on Thursday, September 30, at around 11:00 a.m. The fire broke out in a high-rise building on Bielska Street in Bolesławiec, in an apartment on the first floor. Clouds of smoke were billowing from the apartment windows. Initial information indicates that the apartment was completely destroyed by fire.
Several fire service units are at the scene, with more arriving. The gas emergency service is also there. The residents were ordered to evacuate. (Residents say the fire broke out in the apartment of a woman with whom they had previously had problems.)
Two people were taken to hospital: the woman from the apartment where the fire broke out and a man. According to initial information, she suffered burns to her respiratory tract and face, while he was poisoned by smoke.
In addition, several senior citizens suffered mild smoke poisoning. Emergency medical teams provided assistance to the injured. A total of 20 people were evacuated.
Update: 2021-10-01
According to police findings, a 71-year-old resident of the building on Bielska Street accidentally started the fire. The proceedings are initially being conducted under Article 163, § 1 of the Criminal Code:
Anyone who causes an incident that endangers the life or health of many people or property on a large scale, taking the form of:
- fire,
- the collapse of a building, flooding, or the collapse of soil, rocks, or snow,
- an explosion of explosive or flammable materials or another violent release of energy, or the spread of poisonous, suffocating, or caustic substances,
- a violent release of nuclear energy or the release of ionizing radiation,
shall be subject to imprisonment for a term of between one and 10 years.
