Family members and friends are mourning the death of a firefighter squad leader who was killed while tackling a blaze at a residential building in Hsinchu County on Thursday morning.
Firefighter Yu Shang-hua (游尚樺) is thought to have died from smoke inhalation while on duty at a residential blaze in Hukou Township (湖口), Hsinchu County, after doctors’ attempts to resuscitate him failed, officials said.
Yu had been dispatched to tackle the blaze at about 7:30am, along with 11 firetrucks and 25 other firefighters, the bureau said.
Photo courtesy of the Hsinchu County Fire Bureau
Yu, a squad leader, became separated from his colleagues after entering the building on the second floor and was later found unconscious, the bureau added.
Four people were rescued from the third-floor balcony of the building, which primarily housed migrant workers, it added.
The four rescued individuals were all migrant workers and according to witnesses, the four left the scene of the blaze after declining to receive medical assistance.
The fire was extinguished at about 8:30am, the bureau said.
One of Yu’s colleagues, still wearing his firefighting gear, said he had rushed straight from the Hukou blaze to check on his squad leader in hospital.
Describing his death as “difficult to stomach,” the colleague described Yu as an “outgoing and kind” leader beloved by all of his colleagues.
As Yu’s body was taken directly from the hospital to the funeral home, firefighters and policy officers lined the route to pay their respects.
National Fire Agency Director-General Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章) and Hsinchu County Commissioner Yang Wen-ke (楊文科) also arrived at the hospital to offer their condolences.
Hsiao said in a statement that he would cooperate with the local fire bureau to arrange for appropriate bereavement compensation.
Yu was an experienced firefighter, having previously served as head of the Zhuwei Branch in New Taipei City. He started his service in Hsinchu County last year.
An investigation into the exact cause of Yu’s death is ongoing, with Minister of the Interior Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) saying that the ministry would provide any help if needed.
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