According to the fire department, around 100 people were in front of the building. Some tried to help the people in the building. Others filmed the fire and shared the videos on social media.
According to the police and the city of Flensburg, a child and an adult died in a major fire on Harrisleer Strasse in Flensburg on Thursday. According to information from NDR Schleswig-Holstein, this is a woman. An eyewitness reported that the woman burned to death at the window while first responders tried to save her. According to him, a man was able to leave the burning house via a ladder, others jumped out of the windows. According to the fire department, nine people were injured and taken to the hospital. According to military commander Carsten Herzog, some residents had inhaled smoke gases, others were injured when they fled. According to the information, the fire in the roof structure of the three-storey apartment building broke out shortly before 5 p.m. It was extinguished late Thursday evening, and the post-extinguishing work continued.
People in the area should keep windows and doors closed
According to the police, there were still people in the building. “There are 40 people reported in the house,” said a police spokesman. However, it is not known how many of them were in the house when the fire broke out. At first there was talk of up to 25 injuries, which according to the fire department was due to the confusing situation. About ambulances and emergency doctors were on site. The area has been cordoned off extensively. People in Flensburg Nord and Klues were initially asked to keep windows and doors closed.
The fire brigades initially did not get to the apartment building well because relatives and onlookers were partly blocking the way, explained operations manager Marco Litzkow from the Flensburg fire brigade. “Some of the streets were blocked by those affected and onlookers. We needed extensive support from the police to first clear the way to the object,” said Litzkow. In order to protect the victims and relatives from prying eyes, a screen was set up and a bus was made available as a place to stay.
Staircase collapses during extinguishing work
According to the fire department, it is unclear how the fire spread so quickly during the day. After a short time, the fire brigade could no longer extinguish the fire inside because the stairs were no longer accessible. According to information from NDR Schleswig-Holstein, the stairwell collapsed during the extinguishing work. The emergency services extinguished from the outside, including with two turntable ladders. On Thursday evening, the Technical Relief Agency secured the building and installed supports.
The roof threatens to collapse, the fire brigade is currently supporting it.
According to the police, there was initially no information about the cause of the fire in the evening. According to information from NDR Schleswig-Holstein, fire investigators began their investigations at night.
Lord Mayor expresses concern
Flensburg’s Lord Mayor Fabian Geyer (independent) expressed concern about the major fire at a press conference on Thursday evening. He found out about it at the council meeting. The head of the professional fire brigade, Carsten Herzog, said he had never experienced such a violent fire in the past 15 years.
Police warn Gaffervideos not to share
According to police spokeswoman Sandra Otte, videos were made of the burning house. “We can only call for these videos not to be shared. People are affected, who of course mourn. We will also consider criminal proceedings,” said Otte NDR Schleswig-Holstein. Mayor Geyer said he found the filming gazers “disgusting”.
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NDR 1 Wave North | News for Schleswig-Holstein | 04.05.2023 | 8:00 p.m