A resident of Zaragoza, an ALS patient living with a wheelchair and specialized equipment, survived a house fire that began after a battery in an electric chair suddenly exploded. The device was located very close to the bed, and the ensuing flames quickly filled the room with smoke. Local reports from El Periódico de Aragón indicated that the relatives acted quickly as the fire spread, helping the patient escape from the room in the caregiver’s arms.
Diagnosed with ALS six years earlier, the man cannot move and relies entirely on assistance. He was awakened by the dense smoke that started to fill the home and, remembering the danger, his caregiver carried him out of the room. The daughter told the newspaper that her father appeared to be losing consciousness due to the toxic smoke and that the first priority was getting him outside safely. The caregiver then attempted to extinguish the fire but could not, and both occupants left the home together. The daughter expressed relief that they were noticed in time, as staying behind would have been tragic.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight on a Sunday at the Via Hispanidad residence. Neighbors alerted the fire department, and Zaragoza firefighters arrived promptly to extinguish the flames. Fortunately, no one sustained injuries, though the occupants could not return to the apartment, which remained blackened by smoke and damaged to the point that reentry was unviable.
The caretaker’s rescue effort saved lives
The daughter recalled that the caregiver attempted to put out the fire, but when that failed, he picked up his father and left the home. Without that timely action, the outcome could have been far worse. She described the moment as a frightening alarm and expressed gratitude for the swift intervention that prevented a tragedy.
The apartment, now inaccessible, required thorough cleaning as smoke had tarred the walls and even the entrance door on the landing. The home had been adapted for the resident, including a wheelchair, an articulated bed, and a sofa to help with mobility and comfort.
The daughter said she was awakened at 3 a.m. by a call confirming everyone was safe and that the danger had somewhat subsided. They borrowed a wheelchair from friends, another temporary measure until a more permanent solution could be found. The family was evaluating options for moving to a newly adapted home depending on how long the disruption would last, noting that circumstances change with time.
Dispute over wheelchair replacement and care providers
The ALS patient had purchased the electric chair in 2019 from an orthopedics department in Zaragoza, on the recommendation of the Aragon ALS Society. The battery reportedly exploded without warning, prompting a family member to contact the store to request a replacement. The store initially claimed the patient was not a customer, a stance that was later corrected after review of the bill and service records. The response from the provider was perceived as cold, and the family describes ongoing frustration with the process, including a request for a formal report and related documentation, which carried a fee of 32 euros.
The daughter said that orthopedics provided a chair on rental terms, asking for a 450-euro deposit and a daily rental of 4.50 euros. She characterized the arrangement as inadequate given the potential risk involved and expressed disappointment with the level of care from the provider, seeking a more humane resolution.
Meanwhile, the family was contacted by the store yesterday with an offer to provide a similar electric chair, but the terms required payment out of pocket. The arrangement involved rent plus the same deposit, a setup the family found unacceptable after the fire risk they had just faced. The daughter emphasized the need for better treatment and clearer responsibilities from the orthetics supplier.
The family is hopeful that home insurance will handle the necessary procedures and clarify responsibilities soon. If the matter is not resolved satisfactorily, they do not rule out pursuing legal action. The daughter questioned how a wheelchair could ignite so easily and expressed concern about the next steps for her father, underscoring the urgency of a reliable, safe mobility solution.