Camp Simcha: two buildings on fire - five children injured

An especially dangerous event in the Catskills: A fire broke out Saturday morning in Glen Spey, in one of the buildings belonging to Camp Simcha "Hai Life Line" for children with cancer.

The fire caused damage to property, and five children were injured by smoke inhalation.

Fire broke out at 4:30 in the morning in one of the wings of the camp. An instructor who woke up from the smell of fire managed to wake up the entire team within a few minutes and evacuate all children from their beds to the parking lot near the camp. Children who needed a wheelchair were led by two guides who carried the patients on their hands to a safe place.

The medical staff which accompanies the special camp worked vigorously and checked each of the children, to verify their condition. Five children who were affected by smoke inhalation - received medical treatment.

In addition, the fire completely destroyed two pavilions - one of them new, leaving 16 vacationing patients and staff homeless.

According to Bentzi Brown, director of the camp, a few days before the opening of the camp, the staff had special training by the fire department, which instructed them that during a fire they should move from bed to bed and check there was no child left. Brown said that even after all the children were rescued, he went from bed to bed and again made sure there was no one left in the pavilions.