Because of a cloud on the balcony

Heavy smoker triggers fire department operation

An e-cigarette (symbolic image) is likely to have triggered the firefighting operation.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com/fedorovacz)

A curious incident in Wels: the resident of an apartment building saw a "cloud of smoke" on the balcony below her and called the fire department. When they arrived, they discovered that the smoke was not caused by a fire, but by a smoker using an e-cigarette.

"It's good to look out for each other." This is how Jürgen Flotzinger, head of operations at the Wels fire department, sums it up after he and his team were called out to a fire alarm on Sunday. So: It's better to call once too often.

Cloud of smoke from an e-cigarette
That's exactly what the resident of an apartment building in Wels did. "A neighbor was worried," reports Flotzinger. The reason: she noticed a cloud of smoke on the balcony below her. However, it wasn't coming from a source of fire, but from a neighbor who was probably smoking an e-cigarette. "He must have been puffing on it quite intensely, so there was a nice white cloud of smoke," says Flotzinger.

Smoker on the balcony
According to the incident commander, the smoker was still standing on his balcony looking at the firefighters when the fire department arrived. It quickly became clear to everyone involved: fortunately, there was no fire.