Andrea Innocenti Around noon on Sunday, October 4, 2026, a sudden fire engulfed the second-floor apartment of a building on Via Demonte, in central Milan. The fire struck a 75-year-old woman, a single resident, preventing her from escaping. The blaze broke out shortly before 1:30 PM, quickly transforming the apartment into an inaccessible area due to smoke and high temperatures.
Firefighters were immediately alerted and rushed to the scene from both the headquarters and the Sesto San Giovanni unit. Despite the prompt response, the flames consumed the entire apartment so quickly that there was little time for rescue operations. Some residents on the upper floor were forced to leave due to the thick smoke billowing from the fire.
Fire on Via Demonte: the facts
Investigators from the regional fire department's Territorial Fire Investigation Unit ( NIAT ) have begun an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Initial investigations have revealed that the flames engulfed the apartment in just a few minutes, leaving the victim with no escape route.
The toll is dramatic: the 75-year-old woman died on the spot, despite the timely intervention of the rescue forces.
Intervention of rescue teams
Firefighters operated with pump trolleys and high-pressure water hoses to try to contain the fire. Meanwhile, 118 emergency personnel provided medical care to residents evacuated from the upper floor, treating them on-site without requiring hospital transportation. The evacuation was managed in an orderly manner, but the potential explosion of the gas cylinders added further complexity to the operation.
Consequences and cleanup operations
Three oxygen cylinders were found inside the apartment . One of them was engulfed in flames, posing the risk of an explosion that could have further aggravated the tragedy. Rescuers therefore had to proceed with the safe removal of the cylinders, a delicate and prolonged process aimed at making the area completely safe.
Once the fire was extinguished, cleanup operations continued to eliminate ash residue, soot, and any chemical agents present. The NIAT continues to collect testimonies and examine the evidence to determine whether the fire was caused by a malfunctioning electrical appliance, a short circuit, or other causes yet to be identified.
Local authorities have warned residents in the area to pay particular attention to home safety regulations, especially around medical devices such as oxygen tanks. This incident reminds us of the importance of maintaining up-to-date electrical systems and taking preventative measures to avoid sudden fires in private homes.