Shock on the Gerlitzen: wooden hut on fire - cause unclear!

Shock on the Gerlitzen: wooden hut on fire - cause unclear!

On November 25, 2025, a devastating fire was registered near a wooden hut on the Gerlitzen. At around 2:20 p.m., when the fire department arrived, the hut was already fully ablaze. Despite the remote location on the mountain, which made access difficult, the Arriach volunteer fire department with 20 personnel was able to quickly bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading to other buildings. The cause of the fire is currently unknown and police have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances. However, so far there is no evidence of foul play. Parts of the infrastructure in the area of ​​the property were also damaged.

The need to prevent fires like this is supported by the fire data collected. According to a study by the public insurers' Institute for Loss Prevention and Loss Research, it appears that the distribution of the causes of fires in Germany over the period from 2015 to 2024 presents a significant problem. This data was published on May 21, 2025 and calls for raising awareness in the area of ​​fire safety. Access to the study is still possible and provides valuable insights into the causes of fires in Germany Statista.

Fire causes and statistics

The vfdb fire damage statistics, developed by the Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection e.V., also provides relevant data that can help to better assess and understand fire risks. This comprehensive collection of statistical data includes over 5,000 building fire incidents from 2013 to 2017 and shows that kitchens are the most common location for fires, accounting for 27% of fires. In residential buildings, where almost half of all fires occur, the statistical relevance of this information is enormous. In addition, 83% of building fires occur on the second floor, while fires on higher floors are rarer but often result in greater damage.

An additional focus is on the time frame in which fires occur more frequently. Between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., fire events cause a higher level of damage, although fewer fires are recorded overall. In order to meet these challenges, the data collection form for the vfdb fire damage statistics was modernized and new fire risks, such as those caused by electromobility, were taken into account. The vfdb calls on all fire departments to take part in this data collection in order to expand the database. The average effort of just two minutes per fire operation can provide valuable information for fire protection FeuerTrutz.

This incident on the Gerlitzen as well as the statistical evaluations illustrate the need for preventive measures in fire protection and the importance of well-founded data collection for the risk assessment of building fires. The ongoing investigation to clarify the cause of the fire in Arriach is in the interests of improving hazard prevention and long-term safety.