Kamień Pomorski homeless hostel fire
Encyclopedia
The Kamień Pomorski homeless hostel fire occurred in north-western Poland
at 00:30 local time (23:30 UTC) on 13 April 2009. The fire occurred during the night at a three-story homeless hostel
in Kamień Pomorski
(West Pomeranian Voivodeship
), a town with a population of 10,000 situated approximately 60 kilometres or 37 miles from the German
border. 23 people, including 13 children http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/1962298,11,1,1,item.html were pronounced dead, with a further 20 sustaining an injury of some sort. The hostel was completely destroyed and the corpses of many people were charred beyond recognition in a fire that the BBC
called "one of the deadliest in living memory". It was Poland's deadliest fire since a fire destroyed a home for the mentally ill in Górna Grupa
in 1980 claiming the lives of 55 victims.
It was a three-story structure built in the early 1970s. Survivors have reported that this was not the first fire to occur at the hostel.
Firefighters were stationed nearby and despite a quick response arrived to find four-fifths of the hostel already in flames with hallways blocked by thick black smoke.
Many of the survivors jumped out of the building, because the available rescue ladders could only reach the first floor. Children were taken from their beds by their parents and hurled through windows as firefighters and onlookers grabbed them and brought them to safety. Common injuries as a result of the fire include burns, smoke inhalation, and fractured bones. Many of the corpses were charred beyond recognition. Some of the casualties were visiting the building and were not necessarily permanently housed there.
Images broadcast on television showed "huge flames reaching high into the sky above the roof" and the "charred, gutted shell" of the hostel. Several hours were spent extinguishing the fire, with twenty-one fire crews on hand to assist.
, Donald Tusk
, who was on an Easter
holiday like many of the victims, flew to Kamień Pomorski, promising new housing and aid for the survivors. The country's President
, Lech Kaczyński
, also made an appearance.
The President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev
sent a letter of condolence to Kaczyński. "On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I offer sincere condolences to you and the people of Poland and wish recovery to the injured", said Aliyev.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
at 00:30 local time (23:30 UTC) on 13 April 2009. The fire occurred during the night at a three-story homeless hostel
Homeless shelter
Homeless shelters are temporary residences for homeless people which seek to protect vulnerable populations from the often devastating effects of homelessness while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community...
in Kamień Pomorski
Kamien Pomorski
Kamień Pomorski is a town in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship of northwestern Poland. The capital of Kamień County, the town had 9,129 inhabitants as of June 30, 2008.- History :...
(West Pomeranian Voivodeship
West Pomeranian Voivodeship
West Pomeranian Voivodeship, , is a voivodeship in northwestern Poland. It borders on Pomeranian Voivodeship to the east, Greater Poland Voivodeship to the southeast, Lubusz Voivodeship to the south, the German federal-state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania to the west, and the Baltic Sea to the north...
), a town with a population of 10,000 situated approximately 60 kilometres or 37 miles from the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
border. 23 people, including 13 children http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/1962298,11,1,1,item.html were pronounced dead, with a further 20 sustaining an injury of some sort. The hostel was completely destroyed and the corpses of many people were charred beyond recognition in a fire that the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
called "one of the deadliest in living memory". It was Poland's deadliest fire since a fire destroyed a home for the mentally ill in Górna Grupa
Górna Grupa
Górna Grupa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Dragacz, within Świecie County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Dragacz, north-east of Świecie, and north of Toruń....
in 1980 claiming the lives of 55 victims.
Hostel
The hostel, originally a workers' hotel, was previously described as an unsafe building.It was a three-story structure built in the early 1970s. Survivors have reported that this was not the first fire to occur at the hostel.
Incident
At least seventy-seven people were sheltered in the building while waiting to be provided with alternative housing. Six children were listed as dead, including an eight-month-old infant. One individual was listed as having sustained "serious injuries".Firefighters were stationed nearby and despite a quick response arrived to find four-fifths of the hostel already in flames with hallways blocked by thick black smoke.
Many of the survivors jumped out of the building, because the available rescue ladders could only reach the first floor. Children were taken from their beds by their parents and hurled through windows as firefighters and onlookers grabbed them and brought them to safety. Common injuries as a result of the fire include burns, smoke inhalation, and fractured bones. Many of the corpses were charred beyond recognition. Some of the casualties were visiting the building and were not necessarily permanently housed there.
Images broadcast on television showed "huge flames reaching high into the sky above the roof" and the "charred, gutted shell" of the hostel. Several hours were spent extinguishing the fire, with twenty-one fire crews on hand to assist.
Reaction
Three days of national mourning were declared in Poland to begin at midnight following the fire. The country's Prime MinisterPrime Minister of the Republic of Poland
The Prime Minister of Poland heads the Polish Council of Ministers and directs their work, supervises territorial self-government within the guidelines and in ways described in the Constitution and other legislation, and acts as the superior for all government administration workers...
, Donald Tusk
Donald Tusk
Donald Franciszek Tusk is a Polish politician who has been Prime Minister of Poland since 2007. He was a co-founder and is chairman of the Civic Platform party....
, who was on an Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
holiday like many of the victims, flew to Kamień Pomorski, promising new housing and aid for the survivors. The country's President
President of the Republic of Poland
The President of the Republic of Poland is the Polish head of state. His or her rights and obligations are determined in the Constitution of Poland....
, Lech Kaczyński
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
, also made an appearance.
The President of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
sent a letter of condolence to Kaczyński. "On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I offer sincere condolences to you and the people of Poland and wish recovery to the injured", said Aliyev.
See also
- List of Poland disasters by death toll