Tragic restaurant fire puts spotlight on safety of gas heaters in public premises
An investigation is underway into a night fire in a restaurant in the town of Most, north of Prague, that claimed six lives and left eight others injured. The third worst fire in the country’s modern history has put the spotlight on gas heaters that are used by many restaurants around the country and were the likely cause of the accident.
The popular restaurant U Kojota was still crowded close to midnight on Saturday when the devastating fire broke out. According to eyewitnesses the place was engulfed in flames within seconds. One of the survivors claimed that a drunk man fell on one of the propane butane gas heaters which turned over and exploded, starting the blaze. Although that version has not been officially confirmed, it would explain why the fire spread at the speed it did, trapping some people inside.
Firefighters were at the site within six minutes but despite their swift response some of the guests were beyond help. However, the team got several people out through the flames, including one severely injured guest who was trapped in the toilets. The head of the rescue operation said later that it helped that the firemen were familiar with the premises.
While some firemen fought to save the lives of those inside, others gave the injured first aid. They were then rushed to hospitals in Most, Ústí nad Labem, and Prague.
Prague’s Vinohrady hospital, which specializes in burns, admitted five of the injured and operated in three theatres simultaneously, on patients in critical condition with burns on 90 percent of their bodies.
According to the latest reports, three remain in critical condition, two others in very serious condition. One of the eight has reportedly been released.
Meanwhile at the site, it took more than 60 firefighters to get the fire under control in the night hours. Interior Minister Vit Rakušan, who visited the site in the early hours of Sunday morning, said several dozen people had to be evacuated from nearby apartment houses.
An investigation is now taking place at the site to ascertain the cause of the accident. The main suspicion remains that the fire started from an overturned gas heater on the premises. Firefighters confirmed that they had found 19 such heaters on the premises. Although safety regulations say such heaters must be properly secured, one eyewitness claims he saw a drunk man fall on one of them. The police are now talking to survivors and several people who left the restaurant minutes before the fire broke out. They have asked for anyone able to provide relevant information to come forward.
Governor of the Ústí nad Labem Region Richard Brabec said he would immediately order safety inspections.
“We will ask the respective authorities in all the region’s towns and cities to conduct safety inspections of heaters, particularly gas heaters, in all public premises – either selectively or on a blanket scale.”
Other regions around the country are likely to follow suit.
Meanwhile, the Most authorities have established a help line for the victims’ families and survivors and are ready to provide those hit by the tragedy with financial assistance.
