A firefighting unit in Greater Taichung headed out to a fire on Saturday last week, but ran into disputes with one of the business owners in the affected buildings and some of the firemen ended up in a free-for-all fight with the people they were there to help.
Four people were injured and required medical treatment.
The fire broke out at an industrial zone in Wufeng District (霧峰) late on Saturday night and eventually consumed seven factories or warehouses and a furniture store.
Photo: Chen Chien-chih, Taipei Times
The store owner, surnamed Tai (戴), and his family had rushed to the scene to try and save some of the items in the store. However, Tai began arguing with the firefighters, leading to two rounds of fisticuffs on the streets, as some bystanders also joined in the melee.
Tai accused the firefighters of being slow and sloppy after firemen could not unloosen the caps on the fire hydrants and some fire hoses ran out of water within five minutes.
According to eyewitnesses, some bystanders began to yell at firefighters, accusing them of not doing their jobs, prompting one fireman to say: “We have run out of water. So what are you angry about?”
The witnesses then quoted Tai as saying: “You guys did not bring enough water. Are you here just to wash the road?”
A beer bottle thrown by a bystander then hit a volunteer fireman surnamed Huang (黃) on the head.
After more verbal exchanges, Tai and some bystanders started pushing and shoving the firefighters, triggering a short brawl. The fighting flared up again when other firemen came to confront Tai.
By that time, Tai’s two sons were at the scene, and a second round of fisticuffs broke out with the Tai family battling the volunteer firemen as both sides traded punches, kicks and tackles.
The four injured, including members of the Tai family and firefighters, suffered cuts and bruises, with one person suffering a minor concussion.
Tai said one of the firemen smelled of alcohol, and he accused the firefighter of drinking on duty.
“He seemed to have drank quite a lot and still turned out to fight the fire? It is outrageous,” he said.
Greater Taichung No. 3 Fire Department Captain Wang Shih-ming (王士銘) said he understood the feelings of the people who watched their businesses burned down.
Wang said that 19 vehicles, including fire engines and ambulances, were dispatched to the fire.
“The first fire engine on the scene carried only four tonnes of water, which was used up in five minutes. The blaze spread quickly, so we had to distribute the fire hose lines through the whole affected area,” he said.
“There were seven factories and warehouses burning. Our firefighter units could not concentrate on just one place, but had to spread out over a wide area to contain the blaze,” he added.
Wang said there were “misunderstandings” that led to the confrontations and brawls, which he regretted, adding that the department would review the matter.
“We will ask the volunteer firemen to keep their emotions in check,” he said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS