Fire chief says fireman died in blaze after false ceiling collapsed

Fire Chief Manuel Nieto said at a press conference in Palma yesterday that the excessive quantity of smoke generated by the fire could have prevented the victim from locating the exit. Nieto also pointed out that the hose which also acted as a location guide in the dark broke after the collapse of the false roof. There will, however, said Nieto, be a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading up to the tragedy. “There are unpredictable factors in all walks of life,” said Nieto. “Even though fire officers have all manner of protective gear, unforeseen circumstances and lack of caution can lead to accidents such as that which happened on Friday.” Investigations into the cause of the fire in the bar, which was closed at the time, are continuing.
Palma City Council's Citizen Safety Officer, Josefa Pelaez said yesterday that other firemen and police officers who had to receive treatment as a result of the blaze on Friday are in a stable condition and that Mayor Aina Calvo is keeping in touch with the families of those affected to make sure that all help they require is made available to them.