The incident occurred on October 4, at approximately 9:22 p.m.. The Duty Operations Officer at the Command Post of the Municipal Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Legnica received a report of an apartment fire on Paderewskiego Street in Chojnów.
The response included three units from the State Fire Service Rescue and Firefighting Unit in Chojnów, an aerial ladder from Rescue and Firefighting Unit No. 1 in Legnica, as well as units of the Volunteer Fire Service in Rokitki and the Volunteer Fire Service in Niedźwiedzice. The Commander of the Operational Group of the Municipal Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Legnica also took part in the operation.
Flames were escaping from the building
Upon arrival, the firefighters found a fully developed apartment fire and heavy smoke in the stairwell. The rescuers immediately sent a team equipped with a firefighting hose line into the burning apartment.
At the same time, efforts were made to locate and evacuate a person who might have been in the apartment. From the other side of the building, the firefighters directed a stream of water at the flames escaping from the building and at the façade.
While searching the apartment, the firefighters found an injured person who had died as a result of the fire.
This was the only fatality in the incident. Investigators are determining the causes and circumstances of the tragedy.
More than three hours of operations
The rescue and firefighting operation lasted 3 hours and 16 minutes. A total of 16 firefighters took part in it.
This tragedy is a reminder of the importance of smoke detectors. Firefighters emphasize that a small device can detect a fire at an early stage, often before the flames become visible.
Early detection of a threat gives residents more time to respond, alert others, leave the building and call the emergency services.
A smoke detector can save a life. It is worth installing one in your house or apartment and taking care of your own safety and that of your loved ones.