More than 150 people had to leave their apartments in the north of Munich on Tuesday night because of a basement fire, according to the fire brigade. The fire brigade saved 15 people, mostly from the upper floors, because of the heavy smoke development with escape hoods, which are special protective hoods with a viewing window, via the stairwell. Among them were some children.
According to the fire department, several emergency calls were received around 9:45 p.m. It reported on dense smoke in a five-story apartment building on Ittlingerstrasse and people calling for help. A dramatic picture presented itself to the first responders. The building was completely enveloped in smoke. People streamed out of the affected and neighboring houses.
Rescue service personnel and emergency medical teams looked after residents in two large ambulances. A woman and two children had to be taken to the hospital.
The burning basement compartment was extinguished after an hour. However, a main power line was damaged in the fire, so that for safety reasons the electricity for many apartments in the affected building and neighboring houses had to be switched off, a fire department spokesman reported on the night of the fire. Therefore, not all residents were able to return to their apartments. They stayed with friends or in emergency shelters. The damage should be repaired in the next few days.
Around 100 fire brigade, rescue service and police forces were involved in the operation. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage had not yet been determined on Wednesday morning.