Koszalin escape room fire
| Date | 4 January 2019 |
|---|---|
| Time | 17:15 (UTC+01:00) |
| Location | Koszalin, Poland |
| Coordinates | 54°11′50″N 16°12′30″E / 54.19736°N 16.20833°E |
| Cause | Leaking gas cylinders used for heating stove |
| Deaths | 5 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1 |
A fire in the ToNiePokój escape room in Koszalin, Poland, on 4 January 2019, killed five teenage customers and injured an adult employee. The deceased, all 15-year-old girls, were celebrating one of the girls' birthdays when a fire, fueled by leaking gas cylinders, broke out in the escape room's waiting area. Since the girls were in a room with no door handle (they were expected to find it as part of a game) and the windows were obstructed by "makeshift walls", they were trapped and died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Previous visitors to the escape room had complained of a strong gas smell, but local officials were not made aware of the complaints. The duty employee who was to supervise the girls, Radosław D., had left the building to get change for the cashier and was gone when the fire started. Upon his return, he attempted to enter the victims' room, but was blocked by a wall of flames, and was severely burnt and later hospitalised.
Four people were arrested and tried for their responsibility in the fire, including Radosław, who was sentenced to two years in prison. The court also awarded 200,000zł compensation to each victim's family. Because of the fire, Poland implemented new regulations for entertainment venues, requiring them to undergo inspections by fire officials at least every two years. The regulations also required ample evacuation routes.