Denada Jushi
The shocking sight of flames engulfing an entire building in a matter of moments yesterday in Tirana, in front of the "Mother Teresa" hospital, was a chronicle that was warned about, and unfortunately, a recurring incident.
The first moment of the event was the rapid evacuation of residents, preventing tragedy.
The firefighters did an almost heroic job, considering that they do not even have the basic protective equipment for their lives during such interventions.
A few hours later, two more Cougar helicopters were deployed to assist firefighters, but drone footage showed the inefficiency expected in such cases.
Even today, after almost 24 hours, the circumstances of how the fire broke out, which burned the entire exterior facade of the apartment, remain unclear.
According to data from the Hospital Center, yesterday 8 people, including 6 firefighters and 2 citizens, were transported and received hospital care.
When the flames are extinguished, what is visible is significant material damage.
Based on preliminary information, police say it is suspected that the fire started on the first floors and quickly spread to the upper floor through the exterior facade.
What was noticeable was the speed with which the facade crumbled, once again highlighting the problem of facades in new construction.
"ACQJ", in 2025, in the research "Burning Facades", brought concern to experts, who clearly pointed out the danger posed by the materials used in recent years in new construction in the capital.
New constructions are using insulation materials such as polystyrene (EPS – Expanded Polystyrene) or other similar materials, which can have high risks.
According to engineer Eraldo Pampuri, polystyrene is a flammable material and can contribute to the spread of fire.
“In modern construction, polystyrene is often covered with protective layers, but if these layers are damaged or neglected during construction, hazards can be created. Fires involving polystyrene can release toxic fumes, including carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases, which put the lives of citizens at risk.”
But the story goes further. According to a letter from the Albanian Association of Surveyors, this concern was also raised in the Albanian Parliament in March 2024, but to date there has been no reaction, neither from the Parliament, nor from the Municipality, nor from the institutions, not only for this specific case, but also for previous cases.
Neither whether the works have been inspected, nor any reaction as to whether the facility has been approved or for direct responsibility from the institutions.
Shkëlqim Goxhaj, director of the Tirana Fire Department, gave a statement to the media, explaining the cause of the fire in the 12-story building near the “Mother Teresa” hospital. He admitted that the fire started in a business on the first floor of the building and that the facade contributed to the spread of the flames.
What makes what happened yesterday in the capital even more serious is the reaction of the authorities.
First, the appearance of the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Lamallari, on the ground, but without any force or clarity about what he could do about the event, seemed more like a form of propaganda than real help.
Then, the reaction of the Prefect of Tirana, Shkëlqim Hajdari, who said that he is not at all concerned about where citizens will stay overnight since they have relatives, was, at the very least, carelessness, but also a sign of a long-standing arrogance of the government.
Today, Prime Minister Rama reacted, trying to consider himself the solver of a private problem between citizens and the builder, vowing that the latter would rebuild the palace from scratch, but without holding responsible for the failure of institutions in the face of builders and construction in the capital.
The alarm for these predicted events has been sounding for at least 4 years, but in Albania, apparently, no one is taking responsibility. In such cases, it must be admitted that luck has been on the side of the residents and has at least spared their lives, while a lifetime's worth of work is seen burning away in seconds.
The ongoing question remains: How far?acqj.al
