Candle sparks fire that forces 45 from Romanian block of flats
A blaze that began with an unattended candle in a first-floor flat in Medias filled a five-storey block with smoke, emergency services said.
About 45 people evacuated themselves or were led out by firefighters from a block of flats in Medias, Romania, after a fire broke out in a first-floor apartment on Friday evening, the Sibiu Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU Sibiu) said, according to Agerpres. Around 30 residents left the building on their own, while firefighters evacuated another 15, ISU Sibiu spokeswoman Andreea Stefan said.
The fire, on Strada 1 Decembrie, completely destroyed one room of the flat and its contents, and smoke filled the stairwell throughout the five-storey building, ISU Sibiu said. Three residents were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation: the 54-year-old owner of the flat, a 32-year-old female neighbour and an 11-year-old girl, Stirile ProTV reported. A further five people were treated at the scene for panic attacks and declined to be taken to hospital.
Firefighters brought in three fire engines, a turntable ladder and a mobile intensive care unit, and worked to extinguish the blaze and ventilate the smoke-filled building, ISU Sibiu said. The fire was later declared extinguished. Investigators determined the likely cause was an unattended candle, Stirile ProTV reported.
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What we know
- 2+ outlets · Știripesurse, Digi24 About 45 people evacuated a five-storey block of flats in Medias after a fire broke out in a first-floor apartment on Friday evening.
- 1 outlet · Știrile ProTV Three residents, including an 11-year-old girl, were hospitalised with smoke inhalation; five others were treated at the scene for panic attacks.
- 1 outlet · Știripesurse The fire destroyed one room of the flat and filled the building's stairwell with smoke before being extinguished.
- 2+ outlets · Știrile ProTV Fire investigators said the likely cause was an unattended candle.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Figure history
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Why it matters for Europe
Residential fires caused by unattended candles or open flames are a recurring hazard in older apartment blocks across Central and Eastern Europe, where a fire in a single flat can quickly fill shared stairwells with smoke and force the evacuation of dozens of neighbours.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 1 countries.
- Știripesurse: Zeci de persoane evacuate dintr-un bloc din Mediaş, din cauza unui incendiu la un apartament
- Digi24: Peste 40 de persoane au fost evacuate dintr-un bloc din Mediaș în care a izbucnit un incendiu
- Știrile ProTV: Incendiu puternic într-un bloc din Mediaș pornit de la o lumânare lăsată nesupravegheată. Trei persoane au ajuns la spital
Source balance
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Intelligence file
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Questions and answers
- How many people were evacuated in the Medias fire?
- About 45 people left the five-storey block, 30 of them on their own and 15 with help from firefighters, emergency services said.
- Was anyone hurt?
- Three residents, including an 11-year-old girl, were hospitalised with smoke inhalation, and five others were treated at the scene for panic attacks.
- What caused the fire?
- Investigators said the likely cause was an unattended candle in the first-floor flat where the blaze started.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.