One week after a devastating fire destroyed the apartments of at least 30 families in Tirana’s Arlis residential complex, the city’s Municipal Council is set to convene an extraordinary meeting to approve financial assistance for those affected.

According to a draft decision obtained by the local media, the council will review a proposal on Wednesday at 16:00 local time, for a monthly rent subsidy of 40,000 lek (approximately $400) for each displaced family. The support will remain in place until residents are able to return to their reconstructed homes.

The document states that the financial burden will be covered by the Municipality of Tirana through its Fire Protection and Civil Emergency program. To qualify for the subsidy, families must provide proof that they do not own another residence within the municipality.

Meanwhile, authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, which broke out in the “Farmacia 10” area along Dibra Street. Preliminary suspicions suggest that the rapid spread of flames across the building’s façade may have been exacerbated by the use of low-quality, non-fire-resistant materials.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Edi Rama assured residents that the construction company responsible for the building would cover the full cost of reconstruction. The municipality has also pledged to compensate families for the loss of household furnishings, many of which were completely destroyed in the blaze.

Initial reports indicate that the fire started from a pile of cardboard near the entrance of a supermarket. Fueled by strong winds, the flames spread rapidly across the structure within minutes, leaving extensive damage in their wake.