A major fire swept through two multi-storey houses on Grigore Eremia street in Chiajna, Ilfov County, near Bucharest on Sunday afternoon. ISU Bucharest-Ilfov firefighters responded with eight fire engines, height-rescue and extrication units plus two SMURD crews, according to HotNews / ISUBIF.

When the first crews arrived the blaze showed open flame and heavy smoke, with a risk of spreading to neighbouring homes. Later the fire was contained to the two buildings without spreading further, ISUBIF spokesman Eduard Ștefan said.

Five people received medical care: one with facial burns and four with panic attacks. At the time of the statements no victims had been found inside the houses; details could still change as the operation continued.

Engines drew water from nearby hydrants. Authorities advised residents not to inhale the smoke but did not issue a Ro-Alert, saying the smoke was not dense enough.

The response used a larger than usual force for water volume and staffing. The cause of the outbreak was not announced in the first public updates.

Chiajna lies west of Bucharest; dense individual housing means daytime fires often trigger a rapid ISUBIF deployment to stop flames jumping between properties.

Illustrative image: Romanian firefighters on a call (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0).

Sources consulted: Major fire in Chiajna, near the capital — HotNews.