New information is coming to light regarding the tragedy that occurred at noon on Saturday (November 14) following a fire in an abandoned building in Zefiri, in the municipality of Fyli, which resulted in the deaths of two firefighters, aged 23 and 44, to lose their lives and one firefighter to be injured.
It all began this morning, when, at approximately 11:40 a.m., the Fire Department’s Operations Center was alerted to a fire in an abandoned building on Katsantoni Street, in the municipality of Fyli. Shortly thereafter, 20 firefighters with six vehicles from the 10th, 6th, and 12th Athens Fire Stations, as well as personnel from the 1st Special Rescue Unit (EMAK).
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While firefighters were working inside the abandoned building trying to contain the fire, a section of the building collapsed, trapping some of them.
Two of the firefighters were initially pulled out unconscious and taken by an EKAB ambulance to Attiko Hospital, while a third injured firefighter was also rescued. Shortly afterward, the deaths of the 23-year-old and 44-year-old firefighters were confirmed.
Authorities are investigating whether the two men died of asphyxiation, due to smoke and the conditions inside the burning building, or if they were crushed by collapsing structural materials.
The causes of the fire, as well as the circumstances that led to the collapse of part of the building, remain under investigation. To this end, the Athens Arson Crimes Investigation Unit has been mobilized, while crucial evidence is also expected to emerge from the investigation into the exact circumstances of the two firefighters’ deaths.
“They stepped on the ladder and fell into the void; they couldn’t get out—they were trapped in the fire.”
The president of the Panhellenic Firefighters’ Union, Konstantinos Papantonis, spoke with tears in his eyes about the tragic incident. Regarding the circumstances under which the two firefighters lost their lives, he pointed out that “There was a spiral staircase with a notch in it, leading down to a basement that was filled with trash and engulfed in flames. Our colleagues stepped onto the staircase and fell into the void. That’s what they told me. I don’t know to what extent or how accurate it is. That’s what most of the colleagues I asked told me. […]
“In the basement, beneath the trash that was on the staircase—the spiral staircase. The space was very small, and they couldn’t get out again; everything was engulfed in flames,” he noted.
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“It wasn’t a big fire; we saw smoke, and the firefighters were crying,” says a local resident
A local resident describes the dramatic moments that unfolded when the fire broke out in the abandoned building.
“Around 11:30, we heard sirens. We went outside and saw a fire in an abandoned building. The firefighters arrived, then we saw police arriving, ambulances, and apparently some firefighters… Something happened inside; we don’t know the details because they wouldn’t let us get close. We hope the kids are okay. We didn’t see a very big fire. We saw smoke. It used to be an aluminum workshop where they made aluminum products and doors,” he emphasized.
“The emergency crews arrived; they were anxious, and the firefighters were crying,” he added, though he doesn’t know if anything fell on the firefighters because they weren’t allowed to get close.
“The Fire Department family is mourning two of its own,” says Tournas
“Today, the Fire Department family mourns two of its own, who lost their lives in the line of duty,” said Evangelos Tournas, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, in a statement. “My thoughts are with their families and loved ones. I offer them my deepest and most sincere condolences from the bottom of my heart.”
“I wish their colleague, who was taken to the hospital, a speedy and full recovery,” the minister also said.
The Fire Department’s statement:
“Today is an extremely difficult day for the Fire Department. Two more of our officers lost their lives while responding to a fire that broke out in a building on Katsantoni Street in the Fyli area of Attica.
The two firefighters heroically gave their lives in the line of duty while faithfully carrying out their mission to protect the lives and property of citizens, as well as the natural environment.
The entire leadership of the Fire Department expresses its deep sorrow and sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of our deceased colleagues.
A sworn administrative investigation will be conducted into the causes and circumstances of the accident.
By order of the Chief of the Fire Department, all flags of our Services will be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning. Our thoughts are with them.”
See photos from the scene:
Source: Proto Thema
