A tragic incident has shaken Santa Susanna: On Sunday evening, a firefighter lost his life while battling a fire at a hotel on the promenade. The alarm was raised at 7:29 PM, prompting the immediate mobilization of eight ground teams. Upon the arrival of the emergency services, the hotel, which housed around 250 people, had already been fully evacuated.
Firefighters Battle Flames in Basement
A team of three firefighters entered the hotel to extinguish the fire in the basement (-1). A few minutes later, shocking news reached the command center: one of the three firefighters was missing. Search operations were immediately intensified, prioritizing the heavily smoke-filled area with broken skylights to improve ventilation.
Cardiac Arrest Leads to Death
After the fire was brought under control, the missing firefighter was located and evacuated to the outside. There, he immediately received medical attention from the Medical Emergency System (SEM), which had activated three units, a medical helicopter, and two joint SEM-Generalitat fire teams. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts following cardiac arrest, the firefighter sadly passed away.
Psychological Support and Investigation Launched
In response to the tragic loss, the Psychological Support Group GEM and another SEM team were activated to care for the affected firefighters involved in the operation. Another person sustained minor injuries as a result of the fire and was evacuated to Sant Jaume Hospital in Calella. The Directorate General for Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue (DGPEIS) has launched a comprehensive investigation to clarify the exact circumstances and causes of the incident.
Politicians Express Condolences
The President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Salvador Illa, expressed his deepest condolences on Sunday: “I am very sorry for the death of a firefighter on duty in Santa Susanna. My deepest condolences and all my warmth to his family and all his colleagues.” He also thanked the Generalitat Fire Department for their “great work.” The Minister of Interior and Public Safety of the Generalitat, Núria Parlon, also extended her condolences via X and thanked the emergency services.
