Man died from possibly set fire in Vienna-Hernals

Around 7:30 p.m., emergency services were called to Bergsteiggasse No. 11. Upon arrival, thick smoke was already pouring out of the windows, and the area behind the entrance door was fully ablaze. "It was a major challenge to get into the building. The fire in the entrance area was quickly pushed back enough for the emergency services to advance past the last flames into the building," reported fire department spokesman Jürgen Figerl. There, the injured person - a 53-year-old - was found and handed over to the Vienna professional rescue service, which was deployed with the special operations group. The man was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation. At least one resident saved himself by jumping out of the window, the Vienna police reported via a press release on Tuesday. He was unharmed.

Other breathing apparatus teams simultaneously checked the stairwell and all apartments. The deceased was discovered in the stairwell. At the same time, a turntable ladder was used to check if there were any other people in the apartments, which was not the case. During the firefighting operations, residents stayed in the professional rescue service's warming bus. After the fire was extinguished, the building was ventilated with high-performance fans.

Vienna Police Request Information Following Fatal Fire in Vienna-Hernals

The cause of the fire is the subject of ongoing investigations by the Vienna State Criminal Police Office. It is already known that several smaller fires have recently broken out in the vicinity, mostly caused by ignited trash cans in the stairwells of several multi-family houses. Once even a stroller. Due to these similarities, arson is currently suspected.

Relevant information – also anonymously – is requested to be reported to the Vienna State Criminal Police Office at the phone number 01-31310-33800.

(APA/Red.)

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