Oxygen Cylinder Exploded: Fire in Gutenbrunn Resulted in Several Injuries

Two residents and five firefighters were slightly injured in a fire on Thursday evening in Gutenbrunn (Zwettl district). The two men living in the house unsuccessfully tried to fight the flames themselves.

A medical oxygen tank in the bedroom exploded due to the fire. According to police, the injured suffered burns from the flash flames or a slight smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire was the subject of investigations.

27-Year-Old Noticed Fire in Bedroom

In the house, the power went out around 7:30 PM. When a 27-year-old resident went to the distribution box, he noticed a fire in the bedroom. Together with his 56-year-old father, he unsuccessfully tried to fight the flames with a fire extinguisher. The two residents escaped outside and called emergency services, the police reported in a statement on Friday. The duo received initial medical care from the rescue team. The fire department fought the massive fire in the bedroom.

Firefighters Injured by Flash Flames

"Shortly afterwards, there were two explosions in the residential building, with flash flames emerging from the windows," reported the authorities. Four firefighters were slightly injured by burns to the face. The 56-year-old requires permanent oxygen supply for health reasons, and a tank in the bedroom burst, it was said. Seven fire departments were deployed with 83 members and eleven vehicles, along with 13 paramedics and two emergency doctors with seven vehicles. After more than two hours, the fire was declared "out".

Cause of Fire Under Investigation

The cause of the fire is being investigated on Friday by the district fire investigator of the Zwettl police station together with specialists from the Lower Austria State Criminal Office. The extent of the damage was not yet known.

(APA/Red)

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