Fire in residential building

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Thick smoke billowed out of the house.(Bild: FF Trimmelkam)

Dramatic scenes at a fire in a residential building in the small Upper Austrian community of St. Pantaleon. The person who reportedly jumped from the second floor was a ten-year-old boy. He is now being treated in hospital.

Eight fire departments, five rescue vehicles and the Red Cross crisis intervention team raced to St. Pantaleon on Friday evening (as reported). A fire had broken out in a house where three families live.

Eight fire departments were deployed.(Bild: Pressefoto Scharinger © Daniel Scharinger)

Rescue by turntable ladder
The fire departments used the turntable ladder to rescue some of the residents from the completely smoke-filled house. 14 people were injured, most of them suffering from smoke inhalation. A ten-year-old boy was so desperate that he jumped from the second-floor balcony into the garden. The lawn, softened by the rain, probably slowed his fall. The boy is still in hospital, but on the mend.

Thick smoke billowed out of the house.(Bild: FF Trimmelkam)

The residents of the house have been accommodated by the local authority in guest houses in the surrounding area and their homes are currently uninhabitable. Deputy Mayor Nina Wolfgruber told the "Krone" that they are now trying to find alternative accommodation quickly.

The scene of the fire was investigated by the Upper Austrian State Office of Criminal Investigation together with a fire expert from the fire prevention office. It was determined that the fire probably started in the children's room of a ground floor apartment. There are no indications of arson. The investigation is still ongoing and will take a few more days.