A civil defense officer died and another injured while trying to contain a massive fire that hit an old house in the Rabwa district of Jeddah, a spokesman of the department said yesterday.

“The ceiling of the building’s second floor collapsed on the officers while they engaged in rescuing people inside the fire-hit house,” the spokesman said and identified the dead officer as Abdullah Al-Subaie.

Interior Minister Prince Muhammad bin Naif expressed his deep sorrow over the officer’s death and ordered a financial reward for the officer for sacrificing his life for the nation.

“Prince Muhammad also ordered to take care of the officer’s family,” the spokesman said.