Fire brigade in constant use: Advent fires cause chaos on Christmas Day!

Fire brigade in constant use: Advent fires cause chaos on Christmas Day!

On Christmas Day, December 25, 2024, a forgotten candle on an Advent wreath caused dramatic operations by the fire department in Styria. How krone.at reported that the volunteer fire department in Eibiswald had to be called out when an 82-year-old left her burning candles behind during a walk. When she returned, she discovered that there was heavy smoke coming from the kitchen. She alerted her son, who lived upstairs, and both were able to be brought out of harm's way. The elderly woman was transported by the Red Cross to the LKH Weststeiermark for examination.

In this unfortunate situation, however, there was also a disastrous fire in Lannach, where several animals died. The fire, which broke out in a farm building, claimed two pigs and three sheep. A total of 120 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire, which was noticed around 8 a.m. The property damage is estimated at a high six-figure amount, while the cause of the fire continues to be investigated by the Styrian State Criminal Police Office.

Caution is advised!

The incidents on Christmas Day illustrate the dangers that can arise from Advent wreaths and Christmas decorations. Every year, many house fires are caused by such seemingly harmless decorative objects. Loud feuerwehr-ub.de Every candle is an open fire whose flame can reach temperatures of up to 750 degrees Celsius. The fire department and fire protection experts warn that defective fairy lights can also be responsible for dangerous overheating.

To prevent such dangers, the experts recommend using a simple checklist: never leave candles unattended, place Advent wreaths on non-flammable surfaces and regularly check electric fairy lights for damage. Particular caution should be exercised when flammable materials are nearby as this may cause a fire to spread quickly.