A total of 104 Floriani from the fire brigades St. Johann im Pongau, Schwarzach and Bischofshofen went out on Sunday night to put out a fire in the apartment in the center of St. Johann. As the St. Johann fire brigade confirmed on SALZBURG24 request, it is an attic apartment on the third floor of the Raiffeisen branch.

Burn victim succumbs to injuries

A 47-year-old German fought himself in the apartment on fire, who was located by means of a thermal imaging camera, was seriously injured and was brought to the Schwarzach hospital after initial treatment by the Red Cross and the emergency doctor. There, however, he succumbed to his serious injuries, as the police confirmed on Sunday morning on SALZBURG24 request.

Apartment fire in St. Johann im Pongau

At the same time as the search for people, another respiratory protection team began fighting the fire. In addition, an external attack was carried out via the aerial rescue platform.

The Floriani had great difficulty getting into the apartment because of the enormous smoke and heat. However, it was possible to successfully prevent the flames from spreading to the roof.

In order to put out the fire, the roof structure had to be opened. This required the use of numerous respiratory protection teams and both aerial rescue devices. The mission, including the fire watch, lasted around six hours. A total of 18 vehicles were on site.

Fire investigations are ongoing

The investigation into the current as yet unknown cause of the fire was carried out by the Salzburg State Criminal Police Office. The Salzburg public prosecutor’s office ordered an autopsy and a court-sworn fire expert from the Salzburg state office for fire prevention was called in, the police report.

(Source: SALZBURG24)