Fire alarm in Vienna

Smoke in retirement home triggers difficult operation

The extinguishing work proved difficult - even extinguishing lances were used (symbolic image).

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

The Vienna professional fire department was called out early on Wednesday morning because a part of a retirement home in Vienna-Währing was filled with smoke. The fire department's operation continued because the fire had ignited in a place that was difficult to reach. 

According to the fire department, the fire was caused by work on a construction site located there. Specifically, it was an expansion joint fire.

100 pensioners evacuated
According to the emergency services, the extinguishing work proved difficult as the fire had apparently broken out in an expansion joint within the building. In order to extinguish the fire, the wall had to be drilled into, and extinguishing lances and thermal imaging cameras were also used. 

According to spokesman Christian Feiler, the 100 people affected were evacuated to another, unaffected area of the retirement home at Türkenschanzpark. No one was injured in the fire. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at "An der Türkenschanze".

Simon Bluma, der zuständige Bereichsleiter der Häuser zum Leben

City Councillor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) praised the swift action of the authorities: "Thanks to the excellent cooperation of the emergency services, this exceptional case was quickly brought under control. The attentive staff reacted quickly and highly professionally and took good care of the residents."

The staff at the home are constantly prepared for such incidents in the course of regular fire drills, as Simon Bluma, the responsible division manager at "Häuser zum Leben", confirms.