Smoke detector saves lives: Advent wreath in Straubing burns!

Smoke detector saves lives: Advent wreath in Straubing burns!

A smoke detector saved the life of a 52-year-old in Straubing on Thursday evening when her Advent wreath burst into flames. The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Jesuitengasse. The woman was woken from her sleep by the sound of the smoke detector after she forgot to put out the candles on the Advent wreath when she fell asleep.

The Advent wreath was already fully engulfed in flames, causing the entire apartment to be enveloped in thick smoke. The 52-year-old was able to put out the fire herself, but suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital by emergency services. Emergency services from the Straubing fire department checked the fire site and found an elevated temperature in the wooden floor, which made it necessary to open the floor. The exact amount of damage caused is still unknown pn.de reported.

Dangers caused by candles during Advent

Experts regularly warn about the dangers posed by candles during Advent. Carelessness when handling Advent wreaths is one of the most common causes of house fires. Frank Hachemer, Vice President of the German Fire Brigade Association (DFV), emphasizes that many fires could be avoided by handling candles more carefully. Before the first weekend of Advent, fire departments provide information about fire risks to raise awareness among citizens. Tips for preventing fires include:

• Kerzen in standfeste, nicht brennbare Halterungen stellen.
• Kerzen nicht in der Nähe von brennbaren Gegenständen oder in Zugluft aufstellen.
• Kerzen niemals unbeaufsichtigt brennen lassen.
• Kerzen an Adventskränzen und Gestecken rechtzeitig löschen, bevor sie ganz heruntergebrannt sind.
• Tannengrün rechtzeitig entfernen, da es mit der Zeit austrocknet und leichter entflammbar wird.
• In Haushalten mit Kindern und Haustieren sind elektrische Kerzen ratsam, die VDE-Bestimmungen entsprechen sollten.
• Bei elektrischen Lichterketten darauf achten, dass Steckdosen nicht überlastet werden und diese idealerweise nicht in Abwesenheit leuchten.

These warnings and advice are particularly important during Advent to minimize the risk of fires, such as feuerwehrverband.de highlights.