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Wheelchair user rescued from fire at Lorca convent
Quick action by the Policía Nacional brought elderly woman to safety at the Convento de las Clarisas
An elderly woman in a wheelchair was safely rescued from a fire at a convent in Lorca after a swift response by officers from the Policía Nacional in the early hours of Sunday January 4.Police were called to the Convento de las Clarisas at around 1.30am after reports of a fire. The alert came via the CIMACC 091 (Policía Nacional´s control room), which dispatched officers to the scene when smoke was seen coming from the building.
When officers arrived, they immediately noticed “a large amount of smoke” billowing from one of the convent’s windows. They were also informed that an elderly woman in a wheelchair was still inside the building, in a first-floor room, and unable to leave on her own.
With time clearly critical, police split their response. One unit entered the building at ground level, where the source of the fire was located. Officers found a significant build-up of smoke and flames on the lower floor and attempted to contain the blaze using a fire extinguisher from their patrol vehicle.
At the same time, two other officers made their way to the first floor to reach the woman. They located her in her room and carried out an evacuation, bringing her out of the building and placing her in a safe area. Police later confirmed that she was rescued without injury.
The Policía Nacional highlighted that the rapid intervention of officers was vital in preventing the situation from becoming far more serious. Their actions helped stabilise conditions inside the convent until firefighters from Lorca arrived shortly afterwards.
Once on site, the fire brigade carried out ventilation work throughout the building to clear the smoke and ensure there were no remaining dangers. After completing their checks, emergency services confirmed that the fire, which was described as accidental, resulted in “only material damage.”
Police later described the incident as a fortuitous or accidental fire and highlighted the importance of the coordinated response. Officers were able to both tackle the flames and prioritise the rescue of a vulnerable person at the same time.No further injuries were reported, and the convent was secured once emergency services had completed their work.
Images: Policía Nacional
