No Casualties after Fire at Mental Health Center in Burgas

There were no casualties in the fire at the Mental Health Center in Burgas Monday night. The Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in the city reported that a 51-year-old patient has 5% burns and was admitted for treatment at the Burgas general hospital. A total of 34 patients were evacuated, four of whom suffered smoke inhalation.

"The most important thing is that there were no serious injuries", said Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov, who was also at the scene. Nikolov explained that there is no need to move the patients to other medical facilities and the premises affected by the fire will start being repaired as soon as the damage is fully assessed.

The report of the fire was received at 7:10 pm Monday. The fire started from the ninth floor of the medical building. An lit cigarette probably caused the fire. Patients and staff were evacuated as quickly as possible. Four fire engines with 14 firefighters extinguished the fire.

The manager of the Mental Health Center, Dr. Nadia Zhelyazkova, was also relieved that no people were injured. "This is the most important thing", she said.

The building of the Mental Health Center is state-owned. The Mayor announced that the Municipality will request ownership of the building to be transferred from the State to the local authority because the patients and doctors at the Mental Health Center deserve better conditions than the existing ones.

/MY/