A 14-year-old boy tragically died on Thursday evening after suffering severe smoke inhalation in a fire that broke out early Wednesday morning in a residential building in Boadilla del Monte, Madrid. The young victim, who was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, succumbed to his injuries. His mother, also affected by smoke inhalation, remains hospitalized in a very serious condition.
Fire Origin and Rapid Smoke Spread
The fire originated in a 130-square-meter ground-floor apartment located at number 7, Calle Comunidad de Canarias. Emergency services of the Community of Madrid received the alert around 1:40 AM regarding a fire on the ground floor of a four-story building. The flames produced a large amount of smoke that quickly spread through the stairwell and facade, impacting several homes.
Upon the arrival of paramedics, the two individuals from the apartment where the fire started had managed to evacuate on their own. However, a mother and her son, residents of the first floor, were found unconscious in the stairwell landing after attempting to flee the building, unaware that smoke had already engulfed the common areas.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
Six units of the Community of Madrid Fire Department responded to the scene and successfully rescued both the mother and son. The woman was located on the ground floor landing, and the minor on the first floor landing. A second child managed to escape the building, according to police sources. Firefighters confined the remaining residents and conducted several rescues via the facade due to the intense smoke accumulation. The apartment where the fire originated sustained significant damage.
Ester Armela, head of duty for Summa 112, explained that emergency teams treated two patients in critical condition: a 43-year-old woman and a 14-year-old minor, both with severe smoke inhalation. The minor was in cardiorespiratory arrest. After stabilization, they were transported in serious condition to La Paz Hospital and Puerta de Hierro Hospital. Additionally, 19 other individuals received treatment for mild smoke inhalation, including five Civil Guards and one Local Police officer.
Community Mourns and Investigation Begins
The Mayor of Boadilla del Monte, Javier Úbeda, confirmed the minor’s passing in a statement, expressing “all our affection and support for his family and loved ones in these difficult moments.” He assured that the municipality remains “very attentive to the evolution of his mother, who continues to be hospitalized.” The mayor also announced that a minute of silence would be observed on Friday at 10:00 AM at the entrance of the City Hall in memory of the deceased young man, inviting all residents to join this act of respect and support.
The deceased minor was a student at Mirabal School in Boadilla del Monte. The educational center issued a statement to families deeply regretting the loss of their student and extending their sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones. The note stated that “special attention and emotional support are being provided to students and staff, especially to the minor’s closest classmates,” and encouraged families to speak with their children with serenity and closeness. The school’s guidance team has also made itself available to those who require additional support.
The Civil Guard has launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire. According to initial hypotheses, the fire may have started in one of the rooms on the ground floor, although the exact origin is currently unknown, and a short circuit has not been ruled out.
Fire Safety Recommendations
Emergency services remind the public that in a domestic fire, the greatest risk is smoke inhalation, which can lead to loss of consciousness in minutes. In the event of a fire, they recommend immediately calling 112, alerting other occupants, and evacuating only if escape routes are clear of smoke, moving low to the ground and never using the elevator. If the stairwell is filled with smoke, they advise against attempting to exit. Instead, confine yourself to a room as far as possible from the fire, close the door, seal cracks with wet clothes or towels, and make yourself visible from a window or balcony to facilitate rescue. Under no circumstances should one re-enter the building once outside, as smoke is highly toxic and more lethal than the flames themselves.
Source: El Mundo
