Firefighter killed in Hsinchu residential building blaze

Taipei, Dec. 28 (CNA) A firefighter battling a blaze at a three-story residential building in Hsinchu County's Hukou Township on Thursday has died from suspected smoke inhalation, according to officials.

In a statement, the Hsinchu County Fire Bureau said that Yu Shang-hua (游尚樺) was declared dead at hospital after doctors' attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Yu had been dispatched to tackle the blaze in Hukou Township around 7:30 a.m. along with 11 firetrucks and 25 other firefighters, the bureau said.

Yu, a squad leader, became separated from his colleagues after entering the building on the second floor and was later found unconscious, the bureau added.

According to the bureau, four people were rescued from the third-floor balcony of the building, which primarily housed migrant workers.

The bureau said that the four rescued individuals were all migrant workers and according to eye witnesses, the four left the scene of the blaze after declining medical assistance.

The fire was extinguished at around 8:30 a.m., the bureau said.

Doctors later discovered smoke particles inside the lungs of Yu, who is thought to have died from smoke inhalation, the bureau said.

The bureau added that Yu and his colleague had been equipped with full safety gear, including an oxygen tank and mask.

Update

Dec. 28: Friends, family mourn firefighter killed on duty in Hsinchu