A volunteer from the Santiago Fire Department died after a collapse in a central Santiago cité while fighting a fire. The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. and left two other firefighters with minor injuries.
This afternoon, a structural fire in a housing complex at the intersection of Domeyko and España Avenue in central Santiago escalated quickly. Thirteen companies from the Santiago Fire Department (CBS) responded to the emergency, which reached a third alarm due to the fire spreading to two adjacent houses.
Commander Giorgio Tromben detailed that the fire started in a two-story residential house, partially used as a commercial space on the ground floor. 'Firefighters worked on rescuing people and containing the fire, which spread to the rear', he explained. While performing removal and ventilation tasks, a collapse affected three volunteers: two with minor injuries and one severe.
The deceased was Paul Cristoffer Valenzuela Muñoz, 36 years old, first assistant of the Sixth Company 'Salvadores y Guardia de Propiedad'. He joined the institution in June 2017 and was noted for his commitment and dedication. He was married and a father. After the accident, he was rushed to the Mutual de Seguridad, where his death was confirmed despite medical efforts.
The CBS deeply mourned the loss, highlighting the volunteer's sacrifice in serving the community. No civilian injuries were reported, but the emergency produced a dense column of smoke visible in the area.
