Two people "severely burned" in a fire at a "care center for the disabled" in Tehran
A week after at least 35 people died in a fire at a drug addiction treatment center in Langrud, at least two people were "severely burned" in a fire at a "center for the disabled" in Tehran, the third fire in a week at centers under the supervision of the Welfare Organization.
Jalal Maleki, spokesman for the Tehran Fire Department, confirmed that a fire broke out in "a psychiatric and care center for the disabled," saying that following the fire in the center, which is a four-story building on Valiasr Street above the Zaratasht intersection, firefighters from three stations were dispatched to contain the fire.
A spokesman for the Tehran Fire Department added that "around 50 men and women who were being held in this building" were rescued from the facility with the help of firefighters, but "two men suffered very severe burns."
Maleki said the two injured people "had been surrounded by flames since the fire broke out" and that firefighters took them to the emergency room after they removed them from the building.
Following the fire at this "care center for the disabled," the Tehran Fire Department spokesman emphasized that "care centers for the disabled, nursing homes, and similar centers are facilities where "residents are unable to move comfortably as usual and must use wheelchairs, walkers, and even beds" and require special care, and special attention should be paid to the safety of these centers.
Earlier, on Friday morning, November 1, a fire broke out at the "One Step to Freedom" addiction treatment center in Langrud city, resulting in the death of 32 people in the flames. Of the 15 injured in the fire, 3 have also died so far, bringing the number of victims of the fire to 35.
Government officials, including the deputy political and security officer of the governor of Gilan and the Minister of Interior, initially attributed the fire at the Langrud addiction treatment center to a "stove fire." However, on Wednesday, the police commander of Gilan province and the Rasht prosecutor announced that they had arrested a former client of the addiction treatment center on charges of "intentionally setting fire."
Also on Monday, November 5, Asghar Ghahremani, the governor of Delfan, announced a fire in one of the addiction treatment centers in the city of Noorabad, saying: "Following a fire in one of the addiction treatment centers in the city of Noorabad, the fire was contained "without loss of life" with the quick action of rescue forces.
The fire at the "Center for the Disabled" on Valiasr Street in Tehran is the third fire in centers under the supervision of the Welfare Organization in the past week.
During the fire at the Langrud addiction treatment center, the Chief Justice of Gilan Province announced the issuance of a "judicial supervision order" for the director general of the province's welfare department for "incompetence and lack of supervision over addiction treatment camps."
Welfare Organization officials have so far refused to provide an explanation about these fires and how they monitor the safety of private or government centers under the organization's supervision.
Source: Radio Farda
