Five firefighers injured in a fire at the China Central Television (CCTV)'s new headquarters last week were discharged from the hospital Tuesday while another one is still being treated.
Seven injured firefighters were rushed to Chaoyang Hospital after battling the fire which started at 8:27 p.m. last Monday and was put out the next morning.
Zhang Jianyong, who gave his respirator to a man trapped on the 14th floor, died after treatment failed.
Zhang Shaohui, a fire brigade head, is still receiving treatment as his lungs are seriously damaged from smoke inhalation, said Huang Kewu, a respiratory doctor.
"Zhang is in stable condition, but we are still closely monitoring his progress," Huang said.
An expert team was assembled to treat the injured.
CCTV had apologized for the "great loss" and traffic congestion caused by the lethal blaze. The fire paralyzed traffic in eastern Beijing and led to the evacuation of 626 residents. The burnt 30-story building, which is part of CCTV's new site and was unoccupied at the time of the fire, was supposed to house the nearly-completed luxury Mandarin Oriental Hotel and a television studio.
Beijing police detained 12 people for allegedly causing the fire with banned fireworks.
(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2009)