Elderly Couple‘s Neglected Candles Spark Blaze; Family Homeless for Holidays
An intense fire swept through an apartment on the sixth floor of a residential building in Sofia’s ‘Ovcha Kupel’ district, leaving a family homeless during the holiday season. The blaze, which broke out after an elderly couple forgotten about lit candles, required the intervention of multiple fire fighters and an evacuation of the entire building.
Bulgarian National Television (BNT) reported that the incident occurred on the 23rd of December at around 11:24 local time. The senior couple, an 88-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man, were both hospitalized. The woman’s condition is stable, but the man’s life remains at risk due to severe burns covering 20% of his back.
The fire gutted the apartment and left five people, including two children, with minor injuries from inhalation of smoke. A total of three fire trucks, a mechanical ladder, and three lines were deployed to combat the blaze.
In the wake of the fire, Senior Inspector Ivelyo Angelov of the Sofia Fire Department reminded the public to avoid leaving open flames unattended, especially around flammable materials like curtains and furniture. He also warned about the dangers of improperly disposed of smoking materials and overloaded electrical outlets.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking in our homes, especially during the busy holiday season. As we continue into the important day, stay tuned to Google News Showcase for more updates and safety tips.