A fire broke out at a house on Minde 4th Street in Hualien. The administrator surnamed Tang died of smoke inhalation while putting out the fire.

A fire broke out in a complex building on De 4th Street, Hualien City, and firefighters rushed to the scene. (Photo by reporter Wang Jinyi)

A fire alarm was reported in a large residential complex on De 4th Street in Hualien on the evening of the 14th. A fire in a dish dryer was suspected to have caused heavy smoke in one household. The community manager, surnamed Tang, 68, was about to get off work. After hearing that the residents came downstairs to report the fire alarm, he first dialed 119 After reporting the crime, he immediately picked up a fire extinguisher and went upstairs to rescue him alone. Unexpectedly, he inhaled a large amount of thick smoke and fell to the ground. When firefighters found him, he was already in an OHCA state. After being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, he was pronounced dead that night. The detailed cause of death needs further investigation to clarify.

The fire department pointed out that the fire occurred at about 8 pm on the 14th. After receiving the report, 7 units of firefighting energy were immediately dispatched to the scene to put out the fire. Before arriving at the scene, it was known that the cause of the fire was suspected to be thick smoke caused by a burning dish dryer in a household. When the firefighters arrived, they found the administrator surnamed Tang lying at the door. He was suspected of being in OHCA due to smoke inhalation. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Another resident at the scene who was choked by smoke inhalation was also assisted by the firefighters and sent to the hospital for treatment. The fire department stated that the fire was successfully extinguished at around 8 p.m., and about 30 households in the community were evacuated. After a floor-by-floor search confirmed that no other people were trapped, the residents returned home one after another at around 9 p.m. The detailed cause of the fire and the burning area still need to be further investigated and clarified.

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Resident Ms. Huang said that she smelled the smell of plastic as soon as she returned home. Fortunately, she heard the fire alarm and immediately went downstairs to evacuate according to the instructions. She said that the community was equipped with fire hydrants and alarm facilities, and the system notified them in real time, allowing residents to evacuate in time. Ms. Huang mentioned that the administrator surnamed Tang had been serving the community for about 2 or 3 years. He had previously worked in other security companies and was very responsible in his work. No matter how early or late he was, he was very kind and enthusiastic to the residents, just like family members. When they heard the news that he fell to the ground and died from smoke inhalation, the residents were very sad and said that they had just greeted the administrator in the evening, but they did not expect to be separated forever.

It is understood that the administrator surnamed Tang was about to get off work on the night of the incident, but encountered an elderly resident who lived alone and hurried downstairs to report a fire in his home. He first dialed 119 to report the fire, and then went upstairs alone with a fire extinguisher to try to put out the fire. Unexpectedly, he fell unconscious due to inhalation of heavy smoke and fell to the ground. Unfortunately, he died. The family member of the administrator surnamed Tang revealed that he was not in good health and seemed to feel uncomfortable the day before the incident, but did not elaborate on the condition. The couple has two children, and now the city office, local representatives and residents are assisting with funeral arrangements and applying for relevant subsidies.

A fire broke out in a complex building on De 4th Street, Hualien City, and a suspected dish dryer caught fire. (Provided by the Fire Department)

A fire broke out in a complex building on De 4th Street, Hualien City, and firefighters rushed to the scene. (provided by the public)

A fire broke out in a complex building on De 4th Street, Hualien City, and firefighters rushed to the scene. (provided by the public)