Keelung City Fire Department mourns firefighter after fatal rescue

Taipei, Jan. 22 (CNA) The Keelung City Fire Department expressed grief for firefighter Chan Neng-chieh (詹能傑), who died Thursday after reportedly giving his oxygen mask to a trapped woman during a residential fire.

Chan, a squad leader with the Keelung City Fire Bureau's Ren-ai Branch, lost consciousness after inhaling thick smoke during the rescue operation in a six-story building in the city's Anle District late on Wednesday evening.

Both Chan and the woman, surnamed Lo (羅), were declared dead on Thursday following resuscitation efforts. Another person suffered minor injuries, the fire department said.

In a Facebook post mourning Chan's death, the Keelung City Fire Department wrote: "Squad leader, your mission is over ... we will remember: You sacrificed yourself to save others."

The department said Chan, 41, had worked as a firefighter for about 20 years after graduating from Taiwan Police College.

He served with the Jhongcheng, Sinyi and Xin'ur branches of the Keelung City Fire Department before becoming a squad leader at the Ren-ai Branch in 2024, the department said.

Chan held multiple professional firefighting certifications and won a National Fire Agency award, the department added.

He participated in multiple major rescue operations during his career, including the National Freeway No. 3 landslide in 2010 and the Taroko Express derailment in 2021.

Chan also took part in rescue efforts following the 2015 TransAsia Airways crash and the 2018 Hualien earthquake.

The Keelung City Fire Department had previously described Chan as decisive and straightforward, saying he never lagged behind in rescue missions.

A firefighting colleague told CNA on Thursday that Chan was warm-hearted and always helped others when they were in difficulty.

The colleague said Chan's coworkers were deeply saddened by his death and hoped he could rest in peace.

Keelung City Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said Thursday that the city government would make every effort to secure the highest level of compensation for Chan's family and have his name inducted into the Martyrs' Shrine in recognition of his sacrifice.