Resident missing

Criminal mystery surrounding fire in remote house

The three-storey wooden house burned down completely. Only the chimney remained standing.(Bild: FF Aflenz Kurort)

A three-storey wooden house in St. Ilgen (Bruck-Mürzzuschlag district) was engulfed by flames on Monday night. On Tuesday, the State Office of Criminal Investigation was at the scene of the fire with sniffer dogs to search for the occupants in the rubble and ashes. But the work is proving extremely difficult.

Passers-by raised the alarm at around 2 a.m. on Monday after becoming aware of the fire in the remote residential building. Nine surrounding fire departments immediately set out to fight the fire.

The extinguishing work was not easy, as only a forest road leads to the house. Several fire engines were used to transport water in a shuttle service.

The glow of the fire could be seen for miles.(Bild: FF St. Ilgen)

"The cooperation between our fire departments always works perfectly," emphasized the mayor of Thörl, Günther Wagner. Nevertheless, the three-storey wooden house unfortunately burned to the ground - the flames were too strong. The whereabouts of the two residents also remained unclear at first. However, they are believed to be in the ruins of the fire.

Fire site very hot
Investigators from the State Office of Criminal Investigation were still on site on Monday to get an initial picture. However, due to the darkness and the extremely hot scene of the fire, the investigation had to be called off.

The fire departments were deployed with 20 vehicles and 70 firefighters.(Bild: FF Aflenz Kurort)

Delogging as a possible motive for the fire
The fire experts continued their work on Tuesday. But it will take time, as mountains of burnt wood are making the work more difficult. The police also deployed arson and cadaver sniffer dogs. The mayor did not want to comment on the rumors of an impending eviction of the residents, only this much: "There are civil proceedings." The house is said to belong to a local businessman.

Only the investigation will show whether the desperate couple wanted to escape their forced eviction with the fire. Technical causes are of course also possible. However, the investigations will probably continue for some time.