Fire in Taichung Shalu Tou Tian House, woman trapped on 5th floor balcony was rescued in a thrilling manner

A ladder truck rescued a woman trapped on a fifth-floor balcony. (provided by the public)

On the 5th floor of an open-air house on Futian North Street, Shalu District, Taichung City, thick smoke suddenly erupted at around 3 pm this afternoon. A woman in her 60s called for help on the balcony. Firefighters dispatched a ladder truck to rescue the woman. Although the woman was not injured, she was suspected of being choked by the thick smoke and suffering from throat discomfort. She was taken to Shangguangtian Hospital by ambulance as a precautionary measure for examination and treatment.

The Taichung City Fire Department received a report at 3:28 pm today that a fire broke out in a residence on Futian North Street, Shalu District. It immediately dispatched a total of 5 units including the Fourth Brigade and the Shalu Division, dispatched 16 fire trucks of various types, and 31 firefighters. The leader of the Fourth Brigade, Cai Peizhe, served as the commander to go to the rescue.

The fire scene was a 5-story RC structure building. Fire smoke came out of the 5th floor and a woman was trapped on the balcony of the 5th floor. Firefighters dispatched a ladder truck and took the woman to the first floor. The woman had no obvious trauma but had throat discomfort. The ambulance took her to Shangguangtian Hospital for preventive examination and treatment.

The house fire was suspected to have started in the stairwell between the 4th and 5th floors and spread to clothes and sundries on the 5th floor platform. The burning area was about 10 square meters. The cause of the fire is yet to be clarified by fire dispatch personnel.