Two firefighters dead in Zephyri – Three arrests, 44-year-old sought
Three arrests were made following a fire in an abandoned building in Zephyri, where two firefighters lost their lives on Saturday.
Fire in Zephyri: Two firefighters dead, family referred to prosecutor
A 34-year-old mother and her two underage daughters, aged 13 and 16, were arrested in connection with a fire that broke out at 11:30 in the morning on Saturday (14/11) in an abandoned building on Katsantoni Street in Zephyri. Two firefighters lost their lives in the fire, and a third was injured. The 44-year-old husband of the woman is being sought as part of the flagrant offence proceedings, according to ERT.
A 44-year-old senior firefighter and a 23-year-old firefighter were recovered dead. The latter had graduated from the Ptolemais Fire Service School just two months prior. Both became trapped inside the burning building, were retrieved unconscious and transported by EKAB ambulances to Attiko Hospital, where they succumbed despite the efforts of doctors.
A third firefighter, aged 43, who was on the ground floor of the building, managed to exit and was transported to the 251 General Air Force Hospital. His life is not in danger, however he is hospitalised in a state of shock and nervous strain.
What the authorities are investigating
For extinguishing the fire, 20 firefighters from three stations were mobilised, along with forces from the 1st EMAK. During an inspection at the scene, the Fire Service identified rubbish, plastics and other materials, which are being examined as part of the investigation.
The preliminary investigation material indicates that the family allegedly deposited combustion residue from a wood stove — which it used in the ground-floor space where it lived — on the building's stairwell. "The depositing of residue, according to current evidence, is inextricably linked in terms of causal connection with the outbreak of the fire," the Fire Service stated.
Officers from the Arson Crime Investigation Division are examining two scenarios for the death of the two firefighters. The first is that they slipped on the staircase and sustained serious injuries from the fall. The second — and more likely, according to the same information — is that they became disoriented in the basement space due to particularly difficult conditions and succumbed to fumes, as their oxygen tanks had been emptied.
The exact causes of the fire and the circumstances under which the two firefighters lost their lives have not yet been clarified. The Fire Service announced that a sworn administrative investigation will be conducted into the causes and circumstances of the accident.
The atmosphere in the Fire Service remains heavy, with the tragedy having cast mourning over colleagues and families of the two fallen.
Source: ERT