VUGD said that the call to Jūrkalnes Street was received at 10:24, where household goods and furniture were burning in a sixth-floor apartment of a nine-story residential house with an open flame in an area of 40 square meters.
Firefighters rescued three people who needed medical assistance, as well as evacuated another 33 people.
At 11:30 the fire was contained, as well as a sixth and higher-floor apartment inspection was completed.
As a result of the fire, the movement of the 56th route buses on Jūrkalnes Street was closed for a short time at the Zasulauka depo stop in both directions. It was quickly restored, but the buses are running with delays.
A large part of the sixth floor and part of the seventh floor burned in the fire. There are concerns that as a result of rescue work, apartments on the lower floors could be flooded.
The owner of the burned-out apartment had a habit of hoarding, according to the residents. This allowed the fire to spread more rapidly. Moreover, this isn't the first time he caused the fire, residents evacuated from the building said.
“Five, six, maybe seven times, he has set that apartment on fire. He has no water, no electricity. Collecting all sorts of crap and the whole house smells. A cockroach-filled apartment. I don't know what's in there. We don't visit – let us say, there is no desire,” said Ruta, the resident of the house.
“He's got everything from trash... I have pictures on the phone of what he has done at the garbage cans. And two years ago, we called the firefighters six or seven times during the summer. He set us on fire. There was no reaction,” the resident Jeļena added.
Information at the police's disposal shows that the fire is likely to have occurred due to negligence. There are no signs of deliberate arson.
