A fire broke out in a one-story wooden house in Jekabpils, where two men lived — one was rescued by firefighters, the other died. Both of their lives in this abandoned house were filled with difficulties and dangerous situations accompanied by alcohol. Nevertheless, locals remember the deceased fondly, reports the Degpunktā program (TV3).
Residents of Pasta Street woke up around four in the morning — a wooden house belonging to their neighbors was on fire. Upon receiving the call, rescuers promptly arrived at the scene. Household waste and the inter-floor ceiling were burning. Before the arrival of the State Fire and Rescue Service, one of the residents was rescued and handed over to medical personnel. However, while searching the smoke-filled rooms, firefighters discovered a second man who, unfortunately, could not be helped by the medics — he had passed away.
Two friends lived in this house with a dog. The flames claimed not only one of the men’s lives but also their four-legged friend. The house did not belong to the men, and they had no official rental agreement — their stay there was linked to an unusual story.
The house once belonged to a woman who allowed both men to live with her. After her death, the heirs voluntarily allowed the friends to stay. Over time, the house became abandoned. In the yard, there were heaps of garbage, and the situation inside was no better. According to neighbors, all of this was a “ticking time bomb.”
“It was all heading that way. There was no heating as such, no warmth — all the stoves inside had been dismantled. And here’s the result,” says a neighbor.
The wooden structure was full of potential fire hazards and flammable materials — the fire could have started from anything. Locals say that the chimneys in the house were not functional, and in recent years both residents kept warm as best they could — with firewood and alcohol. Fighting the fire in this house was no longer something new.
One neighbor notes that this was already the fourth fire in this building. “Last time they dragged each other out of the fire. They start smoking, they drink,” adds another resident.
“Those who do not work mostly drink themselves to death. They had no families,” says another local resident.
The survivor, according to locals, is currently recovering in the hospital. And the deceased is remembered fondly by neighbors — no one can say a bad word about him.
“Yes, he drank, but he was a decent man, so to speak. He never said anything rude or anything like that. He helped me. A rather pleasant guy,” says a neighbor, contemplating visiting the funeral of the deceased.
The State Police continues the investigation as part of the initiated criminal proceedings.
