Rosh Haayin fire claims toddler’s life

A fire gutted an apartment block on Tuesday night in the Tel Aviv suburb of Rosh Haayin, killing a toddler and leaving her father seriously injured after an attempt to save her life.

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As the mother and two children fled the burning apartment, the father heroically attempted to rescue his daughter who was asleep on the living room couch, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

Tragically, the child did not survive the horrific ordeal.

The father was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and second degree burns at the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, as were the mother and two siblings for smoke inhalation and minor burns.

Maariv reported that the fire injured a total of 24 building residents, four of whom were evacuated to local hospitals.

The fire broke out in the four-story apartment block just before midnight. Israel Fire and Rescue Services teams arrived on the scene, evacuated trapped residents, extinguished the flames, and performed first aid.

Initial reports claimed that the fire was ignited by candles that were left unattended in a ground floor living room. Army Radio later reported that a short circuit started an electrical fire that raged out of control. An investigation is being conducted to determine the conflagration’s cause.

Several fires have broken out in homes across Israel this winter. Last month, 19-year-old Anastasia Timchuk of Bat Yam died in an electrical fire in Ramat Gan. In a similar incident two weeks ago, a fire consumed an apartment block in Beer Yaakov, injuring 40.