Tuzla firefighters after the fire: A great pain and burden remains that we couldn't save them all

(Patria) - In Tuzla, all rescue teams that worked on extinguishing the fire and evacuating people from the Home for the Elderly are called heroes, although they don't want to be. They say - they were just doing their job.

Tuzla firefighters were the first on the scene. With the help of colleagues from Srebrenik and Živinice, and members of volunteer fire departments from Tuzla and Gornja Tuzla, superhuman efforts prevented more serious consequences, writes Federalna.ba.

The initial report of the fire indicated that a house near the Home for the Elderly was on fire. However, the first team that immediately responded saw that the Home for the Elderly was on fire, and then everything changed.

- It was chaotic. Just knowing that there were elderly, demented people inside gave us additional motivation to put in all our effort - says firefighter Eldin Šehanović from PVJ Tuzla.

- It was terrible, that flame, the smoke, we were aware that people were inside - a great confusion where you have to remain calm - adds his colleague Kenan Hamzić.

Soon, numerous teams arrived to help, Tuzla firefighters, colleagues from Srebrenik, Živinice, volunteer fire departments. There were more than 60 of them on the ground.

- We all thought much less about our own lives and only about how we would reach those people to get as many of them out as possible. A great pain and burden will remain with me and my colleagues that we couldn't save them all - says Šehanović.

- The biggest regret is that these people we couldn't save, who perhaps had already succumbed before we arrived, will remain a burden on us for the rest of our lives. If only we could have saved them all at once, but... - says Hamzić.

There were also injured among them, mostly due to dehydration and exhaustion. They received medical assistance and are now in good physical condition.

- I was one of the five people who were up there; yesterday I was released home with findings, they told me to monitor the situation and report if anything happened.

We have to move on, we have to continue working on ourselves psychologically, after all this, we have to continue helping citizens because that is our job, that is our duty - adds Hamzić.

- As the youngest member, I will probably need psychological help, to talk to someone because this is something that cannot be forgotten - concludes Šehanović.

Although it will take a lot of time for the souls of these brave men to recover, they have already returned to their workplaces, ready to risk their lives again to save others.