CHIEF BILLY GOLDFEDER
The Secret List/Firefighter Close Calls

Six Thane Firefighters suffocated to death after they operated at a fire scene in a multi-story, multi-family residential building early today.

The Firefighters suffocated and died in the Line of Duty due to smoke inhalation which filled the ELEVATOR of the 14-story building after, what most reports state is that they were initially attempting to reach the fire floor. Some earlier reports stated they were leaving the fire floor, but that doesn't appear to be correct.


Apparently the Firefighters got trapped in the elevator and choked in the smoke that had accumulated in the shaft. All those dead were from the Wagle Estate Fire Brigade and had responded around 0430 hours to the 14-story Punarvasu Building in an upscale area. It was the second fire call from the same building in less than four hours as people were using fireworks.

NOTE: This is the second major loss of life FIRE in India after 32 people were killed in the explosion of a fireworks shop in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on Friday evening.

The first call was just before midnight when a minor fire broke out in an apartment on the top floor of the building. Later around 0430 hours and they responded to another call from the same building where a fire broke out on the terrace of the building as people were, again, using fireworks. Firefighters were on the elevator when they became trapped and were unable to escape.

Sources say that the Firefighters who were running through a night of operating at several fires and may have been too tired and ignored standard SOP's of not to use an elevator during a fire. When the six did not respond after taking the elevator, a second crew of Firefighters went up and pried open the elevator door and found the deceased Firefighters.

The Firefighters who were killed in the Line of Duty have been identified as: J.C. Singh, Avdhut Thanekar, S.R. Jamadar, Kishore Patil, S.K.S. Shinde and Kale. Our sincere condolences to all affected.

Associated Press Report

By RAJESH SHAH
Associated Press Writer

MUMBAI, India -- Six firefighters died early Sunday after they were trapped in a smoke-filled elevator while trying to reach a fire in a building in India's financial capital, an official said.

The firefighters were on their way to a burning 14th floor apartment in Mumbai and apparently died from asphyxiation due to smoke, a city fire brigade official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

The elevator got stuck between two floors due to a mechanical failure, the official said, and efforts by other firefighters to rescue them failed.

The remaining firefighters put out the fire, the official said.

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