TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A fire broke out at the Presidential Office in Taipei on Thursday (April 24) around noon, prompting a swift response from the Taipei City Fire Department (台北市消防局). Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) confirmed the fire resulted from the contractor's careless work on the central air conditioning system. The blaze originated in the first-floor machine room of the three-story building due to negligence during central air conditioning maintenance.
Kuo stated that electricians extinguished the flames by 12:14 p.m., just minutes after the fire ignited at 12:10 p.m. The fire department arrived promptly to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and that no safety concerns remained.
The fire damaged the ceiling foam, affecting an area of approximately 0.5 square meters. Firefighters completed their inspection and left the premises by 1 p.m. Kuo emphasized that the quick response by both the electricians and the fire department helped prevent further damage and ensured the safety of everyone in the building.
