We regret to pass on that a Taiwan (Hsinchu City) apartment complex fire has killed 2 Firefighters in the Line of Duty.
The Hsinchu City Fire Bureau received report of the fire at 10:55 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters at the scene found that cables in the pipe room were on fire and emitting thick smoke. They used multiple lines and managed to bring the fire under control at around 11:35 p.m., although residual smoldering continued.
There was a blackout while people were trapped in the building, so firefighters Lee Yung-chen and Chou Li-hsin went in to try to rescue them.
The pair were taking the stairs to the third and eighth floor, where the people were reportedly trapped, when they discovered their air breathing apparatus was insufficient due to the heavy thick smoke.
Command received a distress signal and Firefighters were then dispatched to rescue their colleagues, but after receiving another signal, no more was heard from them. Lee and Chou were subsequently found collapsed on the third-floor staircase. The thick and sticky smoke from the burning cables hindered the pair from escaping.
Firefighters Lee, aged 39, had served in the fire bureau for 19 years and Chou, 34, for 14 years. Our condolences, rest in peace.