Two older men die in house fires in Romania as the heating season starts
On 27 October 2026 two men aged 75 and 80 died in house fires in Romania's Vrancea county. The national emergency inspectorate (IGSU) warned that stoves, uncleaned chimneys and flue pipes too close to flammable materials cause most cold-season fires. The advice applies wherever homes are heated with wood or gas.
What happened
In a single day, 27 October, Romanian firefighters were called to several house fires across four counties. In Vrancea, two men aged 75 and 80 died in fires in their own homes. For other incidents that day, the inspectorate listed likely causes such as an open fire used in an enclosed space and an unprotected flue pipe fitted too close to combustible materials.
Why it matters
Every autumn brings the same pattern: as stoves are lit, house fires rise, and the victims are most often older people living alone. Age, limited mobility and slower reactions make the difference between getting out and not. Faulty stoves and blocked chimneys can also produce carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that kills in sleep. None of this is specific to Romania.
What you can do
The inspectorate’s advice is worth checking now rather than in January:
- have the chimney swept and inspected by a professional, and keep it insulated from wood, cardboard and fabric;
- no improvised or faulty stoves, and nothing flammable next to them;
- a smoke alarm on every floor and, wherever there is fire or gas, a carbon monoxide alarm;
- if you have older parents or neighbors living alone, visit and take a look at their stove and chimney.
More in our guides to house fire safety and heating your home safely.
Helpful guides
- Emergencies House and apartment fires Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and an escape plan. What to do if a pan of oil catches fire, an appliance burns or smoke fills the stairwell.
- Energy Heating without power What to do in winter when the power and heating go off: how to keep the warmth in one room, which heat sources are safe indoors and what you must never use.
- Home Equipment Indoor air quality City pollution, mold, wildfire smoke and dust after an earthquake. When you need a HEPA air purifier or a dehumidifier, and how to choose one.