In a large fire at a campsite in Wallesau, a town in the Roth district, seven people were injured on Sunday night, two of them seriously. Shortly after midnight, a police patrol found several caravans that were fully on fire, and the emergency services assume that up to 17 plots have been destroyed.
According to previous investigations, the flames emanated from a caravan on the site that was occupied by a family. There is said to have been a flash fire when handling a catalytic furnace – a compact heater that does not require electricity – which then spread to other caravans. A witness heard a bang and freed the three family members from the already burning trailer. A 39-year-old suffered severe burns and had to be taken to a hospital. His 38-year-old wife was also treated in a hospital with severe smoke inhalation. Another five people suffered from mild smoke inhalation and were treated at the campsite.
In addition to several fire brigades, the rescue service and the water rescue service, two pastors from the emergency pastoral care and crisis intervention forces were also deployed. With the help of a police helicopter, the adjacent forest was also searched for people who had fled the campsite.
According to the police, the operation was made more difficult by further explosions on the square, so that the fire could quickly spread to other plots. The Schwabach Criminal Investigation Department has now taken over further investigations into the cause of the fire. The material damage caused cannot be quantified at the moment.