The tribute follows a devastating explosion and fire that led to the deaths of two firefighters, Patryk Michalski and Łukasz Włodarczyk, while injuring 11 others.
The news sent ripples of grief through the country, with the firefighting community and government officials expressing their deep sorrow.
“At 6:00 p.m., we will pay tribute to our fellow firefighters, both from the State and Volunteer Fire Services. We encourage all organizations and everyone who feels connected to this cause to join,” said Kierzkowski.
Many if not all volunteer fire units participated in paying tribute to fallen brothers. Police and other services joined with their sirens at attention.
President Andrzej Duda also expressed his profound grief over the incident, posting on social media: “I received with deep sorrow the news of the tragic deaths of two firefighters during the rescue operation in Poznań. The hope of finding them alive persisted until the very end... Honor to Their Memory!”
According to Deputy Minister of the Interior Wiesław Leśniakiewicz, the bodies of the fallen firefighters have already been recovered and are under examination by prosecutors. “Everything possible was done to reach the injured firefighters as quickly as possible,” he assured the public during a press briefing.
The cause of the explosion, which was strong enough to dislodge the helmets of the firefighters, remains under investigation. Leśniakiewicz speculated that something in the basement might have triggered the blast, noting the presence of a gas connection in the building.
However, he said that the investigation would determine the exact cause in due course.
Questions regarding the storage of potentially dangerous items in the basement have also been raised. Deputy Police Chief Roman Kuster said details about such materials remain part of the ongoing investigation and could not be disclosed now.
The President of Poznań, Jacek Jaśkowiak, said that the tenement building, which housed about 20 residents, will likely be demolished, citing a preliminary assessment by firefighters.
All residents were safely evacuated and have been provided with temporary accommodation.
The incident saw around 100 firefighters and 30 fire trucks deployed to control the blaze and secure the area.
Speaking on the severity of the situation, PSP Chief Commander Mariusz Feltynowski described it as the worst tragedy for Polish firefighters since 2017 fire in Białystok.
He assured that the families of the fallen would receive continuous support.
