Dozens Trapped in Fire at Jerusalem’s Pamonim Hotel, Woman Hospitalized

A 22-year-old woman was moderately injured in a fire that broke out at the "Pamonim" hotel in the city center of Jerusalem and was evacuated to the hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. Dozens of people were trapped in the building and were rescued by the firefighters.

A large fire broke out this evening (Wednesday) at the "Pamonim" hotel on King George Street in Jerusalem, prompting firefighters to be called to the scene and work to rescue dozens of people trapped in the building.

MDA said that a 22-year-old woman was moderately injured and is suffering from signs of smoke inhalation. Paramedics and medics who arrived at the scene provided the injured woman with initial medical treatment, and then evacuated her to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

The firefighting teams reported that upon their arrival at the scene, they identified that it was an occupied apartment hotel, with a large number of trapped individuals due to a fire that apparently broke out in the electrical cabinet on the first floor – and from there, the fire and smoke spread to all the floors. The firefighters entered through the smoke and flames, took control of the fire, worked to release the heavy smoke, and rescued the trapped individuals to a safe location.

It was also mentioned that at the beginning of the fire, a hotel guest was trapped in an elevator that had stopped working, caught fire, and was enveloped in thick smoke. Using the dispatchers of the Jerusalem District Fire and Rescue Command, who were on the phone with the trapped woman, they calmed her down and provided her with practical survival solutions until the forces arrived. The firefighters reached the trapped woman and rescued her in light to moderate condition.

The incident commander, National Fire Chief Superintendent Shai Nehemia, stated that "this is a complex event, with several people trapped and one person trapped in an elevator that caught fire. "Thanks to the quick and professional actions of the firefighters, control over the fire's focal point was achieved, thereby preventing severe damage to the entire hotel and loss of life. As mentioned, one person was rescued from the fire in light to moderate condition and was transferred to MDA for treatment, and about 18 more people were rescued from the other floors of the hotel.