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On February 24, 1972, a fire ignited in the signage of the Pirani store on the third floor due to negligence regarding electrical overloads. Lacking even basic firefighting facilities, the situation quickly escalated. Within 15 minutes, flames engulfed the lower levels of the building, forcing hundreds of people to seek refuge upwards as thick smoke filled the structure.
Despite the rapid response from firefighters, they faced significant limitations. The equipment available at the time, including fire trucks lacking ladders, was inadequate for such a devastating fire. The dire circumstances prompted the need for aerial rescue, but the local fire and police departments lacked helicopters.