A 16-year-old girl was killed in a fire yesterday morning in an old four-story apartment building in New Taipei City’s Sinjhuang District (新莊), the New Taipei City Fire Department said.
Firefighters upon arriving at the scene saw fire coming out of the second floor. The fire was put out 26 minutes later, the fire department said.
Fifteen people were evacuated from the building, but firefighters later found a girl’s body burned beyond recognition in one of the units, it said.
Photo copied by Wu Jen-chieh, Taipei Times
Preliminary investigations suggested that the girl tried to escape, but she was likely trapped by fire in their living room and she eventually lost consciousness due to the smoke, the department said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, it said, adding that the fire likely started at a TV cabinet in a wood-furnished area.
The fire department reminded the public to quickly escape from small fires and to close the doors when they encounter thick smoke or large fires.
If escaping to the first floor is not possible, people should find an area that has not caught fire, close the door, stuff the cracks with clothes or towels to prevent the smoke from entering, and call 119 for help, it said.
The fire department also shared five “don’ts.”
One, do not delay escape to collect belongings, as survival should be the top priority.
Two, do not use the elevator, as the power might get cut off, trapping passengers in the elevator.
Three, do not hide in the bathroom, as bathroom doors and ceilings are often made of plastic that cannot withstand high temperatures. Some bathroom doors also have ventilation slats, which would make it hard to block the smoke.
Four, do not put a plastic bag over your head, as fresh air would not be able to enter and condensation from your breath could obstruct vision and slow down escape. The plastic could also melt and stick to the skin.
Fifth, do not waste time looking for a wet towel, as it cannot block deadly carbon monoxide and toxic gases in thick smoke.
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