A fatal blaze swept through a seven-story building on Calle Embajadores in the Arganzuela district of Madrid, leaving a 40-year-old man dead and a 53-year-old man hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. This information comes from Europa Press Emergencias Madrid, reporting on the afternoon incident.
Flames erupted from the fourth floor at number 55, as crews arrived and described the scene as a large-scale fire with a heavy fire load that caused the building’s front to buckle under heat. The head of the Madrid Fire Brigade, Juan Monteverde, noted that the fire’s intensity was driven by significant fuel in the residence, including a substantial amount of furniture, which sustained high temperatures and complicated extinguishing efforts.
Eleven Madrid Fire Brigades units coordinated their actions to contain the flames from both outside and inside the structure. Upon arrival, firefighters faced a challenge: the substantial fire load and a roughly 150-square-meter area created conditions that slowed progress and demanded a careful, staged approach to protect occupants and prevent collapse.
Inside the residence, responders located the body of a 40-year-old man and confirmed his death due to injuries incompatible with life. Samur-C Civil Protection services indicated he did not survive the burns sustained in the blaze.
Also treated at the scene was a 53-year-old man who managed to exit the building but was overcome by smoke inhalation. He was later transported to the Jiménez Díaz Foundation for evaluation and care.
In another part of the building, a three-month-old infant and the infant’s caregiver were rescued from the sixth floor and brought to safety via the stairs. The child and caregiver were then monitored and provided with necessary assistance on the spot by firefighters and rescue teams.
Firefighters treated several responders at the scene, including two members who sustained first-degree burns due to airless conditions and the heat generated by the fire. The incident also prompted concerns about the extent of heat exposure and equipment fatigue among the crews, which required medical review for those affected.
Following the incident, the Mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, expressed his condolences publicly. He stated that the city would support the affected families and acknowledged the swift work of the Fire Brigade and civil protection teams in preventing further loss of life and stabilizing the situation.
City officials praised the rapid response that helped save the life of the newborn and the caregiver, emphasizing the importance of coordinated action between municipal fire services and civil protection units in urban emergencies. The incident prompted a review of evacuation procedures and a renewed focus on fire prevention measures within tall residential buildings in the district.
[Fuente: Europa Press Emergencias Madrid]