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Fire tragedy in Gmünd: Two children dead, mystery about the causes!
A devastating fire broke out in Gmünd, which cost the lives of two children. Over 100 firefighters on duty.
Fire tragedy in Gmünd: Two children dead, mystery about the causes!
On April 26, 2025, there was a tragic fire in an apartment building in the city of Gmünd, in which two children aged 1 and 5 were killed. The fire broke out around midday and the fire department was immediately alerted. Over 100 firefighters, supported by several volunteer fire departments from the region, immediately began fighting the fire and searching for missing people, as information about missing residents had already been given. Despite this quick reaction, the two children in the fire apartment could only be rescued dead. Resuscitation measures by the fire department and rescue service were unsuccessful, as Kleine Zeitung reports.
The situation on site was chaotic. The stairwell was completely filled with smoke, which made the rescue work even more difficult. Another person, apparently the children's mother, suffered serious injuries and was flown to a hospital in Vienna in a rescue helicopter. Five other residents suffered from suspected smoke inhalation and were taken to surrounding hospitals. An acute team from the Lower Austria emergency call and a crisis intervention team from the Lower Austria Red Cross were on site to provide psychological and medical support.
Rescue efforts and support
The fire brigade was not only busy fighting the fire; They also used an aerial rescue device and fire escape hoods to rescue additional residents from the smoke-filled building. 16 members of the rescue service and ten police officers were also involved in the rescue efforts. The affected residents were placed in emergency accommodation while the apartment building will remain closed until Monday for police investigations. The cause of the fire is currently unclear, and the police have begun an investigation to shed light on this fire tragedy, as Heute reports.
Shocking statistics on smoke inhalation
The sad fate of the two children also sheds light on the dangers of smoke inhalation, which is often caused not only by burns, but above all by toxic fumes. In Switzerland, for example, many fire victims die not from the flames, but from smoke inhalation, mostly caused by inhaled gases and particles, as BFB-CIPI states. Children and older people in particular are among the particularly vulnerable groups. Symptoms of smoke inhalation may be delayed and include shortness of breath, cough, headache, or even loss of consciousness.
To prevent such tragedies in the future, installing smoke detectors in bedrooms is highly recommended. The fire in Gmünd highlights the need to take effective fire protection measures and be aware of the risk of smoke inhalation.