Daugavpils Fire: Woman Found Dead After Flames Self-Extinguish
Tragedy in Daugavpils: Woman Found Dead After Fire Extinguishes Itself
Daugavpils firefighters responded to an unusual call over the weekend, arriving at a scene where flames had already extinguished themselves. Inside the destroyed apartment, they discovered the body of the female resident, according to reports from Latvian media.
The incident occurred in an apartment with windows facing the street. Neighbors, who regularly checked on the elderly woman, called emergency services after finding her unresponsive on Sunday morning.
Dainis Slavinskis, commander of the 1st unit of the Daugavpils Latgale Regional Fire and Rescue Service, explained the unusual circumstances. “It was established that due to a lack of oxygen, the flames had already gone out. The area of the fire was 60 square meters. Combustion requires oxygen. All the windows and doors in the house were closed, so as the fire developed, the oxygen burned out, and the flames disappeared,” he stated.
Firefighters believe the fire likely started the previous evening, progressing unnoticed until daylight revealed subtle signs – sooty windows and melted snow on the roof. Neighbors were unaware of the tragedy unfolding within the building.
“We just found her yesterday morning; she simply suffocated. She was sitting, and praying. Look, here is the room. This is her guļamistaba (bedroom), and further was her room, where she prayed. And here (in the bedroom), everything burned down. Two rooms and the kitchen were scorched. And she suffocated without air,” a neighbor recounted, visibly shaken. “I was in such shock yesterday at nine in the morning that I nearly had a heart attack. She was sitting there; her lūgšanu grāmatiņa (prayer book) was there; she is katole (Catholic). And she remained in her chair.”
The circumstances surrounding the fire are particularly poignant, as the woman was reportedly found seated in a chair, with a prayer book nearby. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the lack of oxygen is believed to have been a key factor in its self-extinguishment.
This incident follows another tragic fire in Daugavpils reported in December 2025, where a woman died after catching fire near a stove, while a man was rescued. In that case, a neighbor and a passerby risked their lives to save the man, and the woman tragically succumbed to her injuries. According to reports, the couple involved in that incident had a history of alcohol abuse.
Emergency services in Latvia recently issued a public appeal for caution during the Christmas season, highlighting the dangers of unattended candles. The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) noted that more than 20 fires have already been attributed to unattended candles this year. The Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) shared a case of a man who suffered serious burns while attempting to extinguish a candle fire, and the smoke spread to neighboring apartments, poisoning residents.
The recent events serve as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety, particularly during the winter months when heating appliances and candles are used more frequently. Authorities urge residents to ensure candles are placed in safe, non-flammable containers and never left unattended.