They are heroes: 2 firefighters die on duty
Print Edition
TWO Minhang-born firefighters who died after falling from the 13th floor of a downtown apartment block when an explosion rocked the building have been posthumously honored as martyrs by the Ministry of Public Security.
Qian Lingyun, 23, and Liu Jie, 20, belonged to Xuhui District Fire Prevention Branch.
On May 1, when trying to extinguish a blaze in a residential building on Longwu Road, pair were blown out of window by the force of the blast.
They landed on a platform on the second floor of the building.
Witnesses said the two firefighters were holding onto each other as they plunged to their deaths.
The two men joined the fire service in December 2012.
“I can only thank them for their sacrifice and hope that life in heaven is free of burdens,” said Ye Zhengqiang, the leader of the fire squad.
On May 5, thousands of citizens turned out to honor the men at their funeral.
Han Guanlong, 67, said he came all the way from Baoshan District in northern Shanghai to attend the event in Minhang in southwest Shanghai and pay his respects. He said the tragedy brought tears to his eyes.
“I was a soldier for eight years, and I understand the sense of responsibility these two men felt,” he said. “They are both good boys.”
The Minhang District government has expressed its condolences to the firefighters’ families in the towns of Qibao and Jiangchuan. Officials said support would be provided to the families during this difficult time.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Some neighbors said there were tenants squeezed into the apartment where the blast occurred.
Pictures aired on a local TV station showed at least three double bunk beds inside the three-room apartment. What was left of a moped could be seen among the debris.
Firefighters said there were a number of electrical items plugged into the apartment’s sockets and an excess of electric wiring in all three rooms.
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