Two firefighters aged 23 and 44 were killed and a third was injured after part of an abandoned building collapsed during a firefighting operation in Zephyri, western Athens, on Saturday, 14 November.
Greek authorities are investigating whether the two men died from smoke inhalation and suffocation or were crushed by falling debris when part of the burning building gave way.
The fire broke out at an abandoned property on Katsantoni Street in the municipality of Fyli. The Fire Service operations centre received the emergency call at around 11.40 am.
Twenty firefighters and six vehicles from Athens’ 10th, 6th and 12th fire stations were dispatched to the scene, along with personnel from the 1st Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK).
As firefighters worked inside the building to contain the flames, part of the structure collapsed, trapping several of them.
Two firefighters were pulled from the building unconscious and taken by ambulance to Attikon Hospital. A third firefighter was also rescued with injuries.
The deaths of the 23-year-old and 44-year-old firefighters were confirmed shortly afterwards.
The cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the structural collapse remain under investigation.
Athens’ Arson Crimes Investigation Unit has been called in, while examinations into the exact causes of the firefighters’ deaths are expected to provide further evidence.
Firefighters may have fallen through staircase into burning basement
Konstantinos Papantonis, president of the Panhellenic Firefighters’ Union, described an account he had received from colleagues about how the two firefighters may have become trapped.
Speaking emotionally about the incident, he said the building had a spiral staircase above a basement filled with rubbish and flames.
“There was a spiral staircase, with a gap and a basement underneath, full of rubbish and fire. The firefighters stepped onto the staircase and fell through the opening,” he said.
Papantonis stressed that he had not independently confirmed the account.
“That’s what I’ve been told. I don’t know exactly where it happened or how accurate it is. That’s what most of the colleagues I asked told me,” he said.
He added that the firefighters appeared to have fallen into a confined basement area.
“It was a very small space and they couldn’t get back out. Everything was on fire,” he said.
Residents describe smoke and emergency response
A resident described hearing sirens and seeing emergency vehicles arrive at the abandoned property.
“At around 11.30 am, we heard sirens. We went outside and saw a fire in an abandoned building,” the resident said.
“Firefighters arrived, then we saw police officers and ambulances. Something must have happened inside involving firefighters, but we don’t know the details because we weren’t allowed to approach.”
The resident said the flames did not initially appear extensive.
“We didn’t see a very large fire. We saw smoke. The building used to be an aluminium workshop that made doors,” the resident added.
Minister pays tribute to firefighters killed on duty
Greek Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas expressed his condolences to the families of the two firefighters.
“Today, the Fire Service family is mourning two of its own who lost their lives in the line of duty,” he said.
“My thoughts are with their families and loved ones. I extend my deepest and most sincere condolences.”
Tournas also wished the injured firefighter a swift and full recovery.
Fire Service orders investigation and flags lowered
In an official statement, the Greek Fire Service described Saturday as an exceptionally difficult day for the organisation.
“Two more of our personnel have lost their lives while responding to a fire in a building on Katsantoni Street in the Fyli area of Attica,” it said.
The service paid tribute to the firefighters, saying they had died while carrying out their duty to protect lives, property and the environment.
Its leadership expressed condolences to their families and loved ones.
The Fire Service announced that a formal administrative investigation would examine the causes and circumstances of the accident.
On the orders of the Fire Service chief, flags at all its facilities will fly at half-mast as a mark of mourning.
