Yesterday, fire ravaged a 24-apartment house at Sargvere Village, Paide Commune of Järva County. The building badly damaged by flames and the water to fight it, no dweller was allowed to stay the night.
Twenty four village families left shelterless
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19th February 2015, 16:10
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At about 1 o’clock in the afternoon, a lady in the village Ella-Irene Emmus went to house next door to wash laundry in the flat of her daughter. Together with an inhabitant there, in the corridor they spotted smoke coming from third floor. The ladies went to find out why and discovered the smoke was from an apartment of a man with alcohol problems.
Beholding the women, the man yelled: «Help, help, I changed my mind!» Ms Emmus was sure the fire started in the very man’s flat, the reason being he was drunk and did not know what he was doing.
From the flat on third floor, the fire spread to the attic and, due to strong winds blowing, it rapidly gained ground. As initial fire-fighters arrived on the scene, the 24-flat three-storey panel house roof was in flames.
This being day-time, all who were at home got out on their own. Thereafter, rescuers and policemen helped get pets out of the fire and water.
Paide commune elder Veljo Tammik said that as the house no longer has a roof, all apartment have been water-damaged and the third floor apartments badly burned, no-one is allowed into the house.
For that first night, 22 families found shelter with relatives and acquaintances, two were placed at the social house by commune government.
According to Mr Tammik, the house is roofless but expert assessment is needed regarding damage to the concrete blocks. «Just to build the roof would cost €50,000 – €60,000, but it will sorely cost a lot more to fix the building,» he said.
To the knowledge of Mr Tammik, only one apartment was insured so not much help from there. He affirmed that the commune would support the people in trouble, but to rebuild the house might me outside their reach. «With so many people needing help, we will definitely organise some kind of donation campaign, but we’ll see tomorrow,» he said.
As far as Mr Tammik knows, there has never been an accident so big in Paide Commune that a quarter of a hundred families lose shelter at one strike.
Last night,. Assistant prosecutor Tiina Viru said that one person has been arrested as suspected in destruction of property, but she was unable to comment further.
Western rescue centre press representative Kristi Kais said that rescuers from Aravete, Järva-Jaani, Koeru, Oisu, Paide, Sõrandu and Türi reacted to the fire. About ten fire engines showed up with both professional and volunteer rescuers on board.