2nd fire in a tower block

Arsonists are up to mischief in Simmering

Black smoke billowed out of the cellar for the second time in a week.(Bild: Stadt Wien | Feuerwehr )

Exactly one week ago, 17 vehicles from Vienna's professional fire department were called out to a high-rise apartment building on Simmeringer Muhrhoferweg because of a fire in the basement. The drama repeated itself on Saturday night - is a serial arsonist up to mischief in the south of Vienna?

At around one o'clock in the morning, residents of a staircase in the large building raised the alarm - they had heard the smell of burning in the middle of the night. According to spokesman Jürgen Figerl, the fire department deployed 67 men in 17 vehicles to a scene that also seemed strangely familiar to the Florianis.

Looking back: On the night of March 9, they had already rushed to the same house, but to a different staircase. Back then, the cellar was also ablaze, and a 16-year-old girl had to go to hospital with smoke inhalation.

Neighbors photographed the spectacular fire on the night of 9 March.(Bild: zVg)

Rescue with special task force on site
On Saturday night, another fire-fighting line was laid using breathing apparatus, while the stairwell and adjoining apartments were searched for people. Numerous residents were led outside with escape filter masks and handed over to the professional rescue team, which was on site with a special task force. This time, nobody had to go to hospital, but the question remains: was one and the same person responsible for the fire?

Black smoke billowed out of the cellar for the second time in a week.(Bild: Stadt Wien | Feuerwehr )

Déjà vu: a week later, firefighters have to battle the flames in the same place.(Bild: Stadt Wien | Feuerwehr )

Police on the hunt for arsonists
At least one thing is already clear: it was arson! As police spokesman Philipp Haßlinger was able to confirm to the "Krone" newspaper, the criminal investigation into the municipal building is in full swing.

In the past few days, there are said to have been several break-ins into cellar compartments, including fires that were quickly extinguished. Compartments were also broken into today before fires were set.