140 people evacuated from factory in Lagedi
On July 13, a fire in a factory's ventilation system in Lagedi, Estonia, led to the evacuation of 140 workers. The fire was extinguished by 3:45 PM, with no injuries reported.
On the afternoon of July 13, the Northern Rescue Centre received a report at 12:47 PM about smoke coming from the ventilation system of a factory located on Killustiku Street in Lagedi, Rae Parish. The factory's 140 workers were immediately evacuated as a precaution.
When rescue teams arrived, they discovered a fire inside the ventilation duct of the production workshop. The duct contained burning wood dust. Firefighters had to breach the ducts and carry them outside to extinguish the fire. As the flames were moving toward a filter installed on the roof, the filter was disconnected to prevent further spread.
The fire was fully extinguished by 3:45 PM. The operation involved professional rescue units from Kesklinna, Pirita, Jüri, Loksa, and Lasnamäe, as well as volunteer fire brigades from Aruküla and Rae. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the staff or rescuers.
According to initial findings, the fire may have been caused by a spark generated when a drill bit broke in a production machine. Authorities are continuing their investigation.
