One person dies, two injured in fires across Latvia in 24 hours

Latvia's State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) said that in the period from 6:30 on 29 October to 6:30 on 30 October, fires left one person dead and two injured. The most serious case was recorded in Riga, on Vēžu Street.

Fire in Riga

At 16:15 a call came in for Vēžu Street, where a sofa and household belongings burned over 15 m² in a second-floor apartment of a five-storey residential building. Ten people evacuated before firefighters arrived. A dead person was found in the apartment where the fire started. Another person was injured, and firefighters rescued a further victim from smoke-filled rooms. The victims were handed over to medics of the Emergency Medical Service. Work at the scene ended at 18:31.

Other incidents

At 10:32 in Otaņķi parish, South Kurzeme municipality, a metal container with household items, nearby trees and a tractor burned over 50 m². One person was injured.

At 14:38 in Rēzekne, on Lubānas Street, a minor smoke build-up occurred in a public building, and 172 people evacuated. The fire had been put out before the service arrived.

At 17:11 in Liepāja, on Ganību Street, a 50 m² fire broke out in auxiliary rooms of a public building, causing heavy smoke. Three people evacuated. Work ended at 20:05; ten firefighters with three water tankers worked at the scene.

At 19:00 in Galēni parish, Preiļi municipality, an exterior door burned over 3 m² on the ground floor of a three-storey house, and seven people evacuated.

Totals for the day

VUGD received 33 calls: 12 to extinguish fires, 17 for rescue work, and four were false alarms. Shortly after 7:00 in Salaspils municipality, a car overturned onto its roof in a ditch; firefighters freed the person and handed them to medics.