Only 13 years old

Former music school was engulfed by flames

The empty building was destroyed by the flames.(Bild: laumat.at)

Major operation on Thursday night in Vöcklabruck (Upper Austria): The old music school was on fire! Fire was shooting out of the roof when the emergency services arrived. The firefighters were in mortal danger when they entered. Now it is clear: four girls (all 13) had started the fire.

Less than 24 hours after the fire in the former music school in Vöcklabruck, its cause has been clarified: according to the police, four 13-year-old girls were the igniters. They were identified through interviews with witnesses and rapid investigations and have confessed. The girls, who had not yet reached the age of criminal responsibility, stated that they were "bored" and found it "fun and exciting" to set fire to the building.

Fortunately, no one was injured by the fire. Initial estimates put the amount of damage at several hundred thousand euros.

More than 100 firefighters in action
A look back at Wednesday evening: the fire department was first alerted at around 9 p.m. - but as the fire spread, more and more helpers were called out, and in the end five fire brigades, 108 firefighters and 19 vehicles were deployed.

The fire had apparently broken out inside the former music school, which had been empty for years, and quickly spread through the floors to the roof. Because the structure of the building is so poor - ceilings are sagging and there is a risk of collapse - it was almost impossible to attack the interior. The risk of firefighters being injured was too great.

The roof had to be opened
Two telescopic boom lifts were ordered to the scene, as well as a turntable ladder. In order to fight the fire better, the helpers had to open the roof and the new DRILL-X drill extinguisher was also used.

The fire departments were able to leave again at around 3 a.m., with only the firefighters from Vöcklabruck remaining at the building, which was a total loss after the fire, as a fire watch.

Conversion project not implemented
In 2017, the former regional music school was sold to a Mühlviertel company in a bidding process. The more than 1,000 square meter site on Bahnhofstrasse was to be converted and apartments, stores and offices were to be built there; the project was to be implemented as early as 2019.