During the night of 15 August, an explosion occurred in one of the flats of a nine-storey residential building on Varshavska Street in Lviv, followed by a fire. The incident was reported to the Rescue Service “101” at 00:42.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, thick black smoke was billowing from the windows of a flat on the third floor, and a man inside was calling for help. The flat door was locked, so using an extension ladder, firefighters helped the man climb down and handed him over to medics for further examination.
The explosion destroyed the adjoining wall between two flats, trapping people in the neighbouring dwelling. Using a ladder, firefighters entered the flat, opened the door from the inside and brought two adults and two children out into the fresh air. From another flat, firefighters together with police officers evacuated a woman who was unable to get out on her own due to heavy smoke.
In total, firefighters evacuated six people during the incident, including two children. After being examined by medics, all those rescued declined hospitalisation.
During the search of the smoke-filled flat and the firefighting operation, it was established that a rechargeable battery and household belongings were on fire. The blaze was contained at 01:14 and fully extinguished at 01:17.
A total of 14 firefighters and four units of specialist equipment were involved in putting out the fire, as well as six personnel and one unit of equipment from the Lviv State University of Life Safety.