On the eighth floor

Steyr woman rescued from apartment after deflagration

The fire destroyed the sofa in the apartment on the eighth floor of the high-rise building in Steyrю(Bild: FF Steyr)

Why was the sofa on fire and what had exploded? Police experts are not yet sure why there was a fire on the eighth floor of an eleven-storey tower block in Steyr, from which a woman had to be rescued. But it is clear where the fire started.

On Thursday morning, neighbors raised the alarm: the high-rise building in the Resthof district of Steyr smelled of fire and the sound of an explosion could be heard. The neighbors called the emergency number 122 - they informed the regional fire department warning center that there was possibly another person in the apartment on the eighth floor.

Two fire engines raced to the scene and the apartment on fire was soon identified. And: someone was still inside.

Several floors evacuated
The fire department evacuated the eighth floor and the floors above it of the eleven-storey building before the breathing apparatus team forced open the apartment door. Although there was no longer an open fire, the entire apartment was heavily sooted. And there was a burnt couch in the living room.

Tenant out of danger
The firefighters also discovered the tenant and rescued her outside, where the Red Cross was waiting. They took the Steyr woman to hospital with suspected smoke inhalation. However, she was not said to be in a critical condition.

No clear cause
It is still unclear why the couch caught fire. Experts from the police were not yet able to make a clear diagnosis on Thursday. However, it is possible that a forgotten cigarette was the cause.