Two firefighters have accepted fines for the negligent homicide of their colleague, Joan Liébana, who died during a car workshop fire in Vilanova i la Geltrú on 17 June 2021. The head of the operation and Liébana's partner agreed to the penalties for less serious negligent homicide, according to a ruling issued on Monday.
The court ordered the head of the operation to pay €5,400 and Liébana's partner to pay €4,500 for their roles in the tragedy. Three other firefighters were injured in the incident.
The ruling states that the intervention chief, a corporal from the Vilanova fire station identified as M. F. C., ordered Liébana and his partner, I. B. B., to prepare to enter the burning workshop. The building was emitting a large amount of smoke.
Firefighters Entered Workshop Amidst Thick Smoke
Liébana and I. B. B. donned their protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus before entering the workshop. They were attached to a hose, which served as their lifeline. Due to the heavy smoke, they could not locate the source of the flames and decided to exit.
They informed the corporal about the high temperatures inside the workshop and the difficulty of managing the hose. The intervention chief then ordered a second pair of firefighters, from the Sitges fire station, to join the extinguishing efforts. Liébana was required to change position, and, for unknown reasons, he became detached from the hose, losing his lifeline.
Visibility was non-existent, and Liébana lost sight of his colleagues and his spatial orientation. His three colleagues, including I. B. B., continued to advance to find the fire's source. Shortly after, the chief joined them and, due to the extreme conditions, ordered everyone to leave the workshop.
Liébana Trapped and Unable to Call for Help
All firefighters except Liébana exited the building at 14:24. Liébana was left alone in the workshop's mezzanine, unable to regain his colleagues' position. He tried to find a door and the stairs by feeling along the walls. The high temperatures and probable exhaustion of his breathing apparatus reserves caused him to collapse and die, the sentence states.
The court believes Liébana could not call for help via radio due to burns on his left hand, forearm, and chest. None of the accused realised Liébana had not exited the workshop until two firefighters from Vilafranca del Penedès and Sitges found him by chance. They had gone to the mezzanine to open windows and ventilate after the fire was extinguished.
Liébana's partner remained near the workshop after exiting and did not mention his colleague, even while discussing the fire with other firefighters. The intervention chief also failed to inform his superior, who took over the operation, about the number of firefighters who had entered the building.
Inexperienced Firefighter Lost Lifeline
The ruling highlights that Liébana's change of position with his partner meant he had to release the hose, his only reference point inside. Liébana had little experience, unlike his now-convicted partner. I. B. B. failed to follow safety protocols, given the serious danger they faced. The intervention chief also failed to ensure all four firefighters had exited the workshop after giving the order to enter. Joan Liébana was 30 years old when he died.
