Alert level 3

Major operation in Vienna: 35 people rescued

100 emergency services arrived with 25 vehicles to extinguish the fire.(Bild: Stadt Wien I Feuerwehr)

A serious fire broke out in Vienna-Liesing on Wednesday night. Flames engulfed the roof and the fire department arrived with 25 vehicles and 100 firefighters. 35 people were rescued via the stairwell and the turntable ladder. 

According to fire department spokesman Christian Feiler, "a very extensive" fire occurred in the Ketzergasse/Pollakgasse area. "Initially it was called a room fire, but it was a balcony fire," continued Feiler. During the extinguishing work, the emergency services discovered that the flames had already engulfed parts of the roof. For this reason, the alert level was raised to 3.

25 vehicles with a 100-person crew were needed to rescue 35 people from the stairwell.(Bild: Stadt Wien I Feuerwehr)

35 people rescued from the inferno
The fire department received the alarm shortly before 5.00 a.m. - the firefighters set out on a major operation. 25 vehicles with a 100-person crew were needed to rescue 35 people from the stairwell and with the help of the turntable ladder.

The operation lasted around five hours.(Bild: Stadt Wien I Feuerwehr)

Fortunately, only one 64-year-old man was taken to hospital after initial treatment for smoke inhalation. Chainsaws were then used to open up the roof so that post-extinguishing work could be carried out.

"We looked after a total of 35 people in buses from the special task force," said a spokesperson for the Vienna Professional Rescue Service. The operation lasted around five hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.