Tragic fire in Gmünd: Two children die, mother injured!

Tragic fire in Gmünd: Two children die, mother injured!

There was a tragic fire in Gmünd in which two children died and the mother was seriously injured. The incident occurred on the afternoon of April 26, 2025. The fire brigade that was alerted was faced with difficult rescue conditions as the smoke was heavy. In order to save the residents, including the family with small children, the emergency services used an aerial rescue device and fire escape hoods. Over 100 firefighters from several communities, including the city of Schrems fire department, were involved in the rescue efforts. Operations manager Mattias Böhm reported that the stairwell had to be made smoke-free using a pressure aerator.

The fire was brought under control shortly after 1 p.m. The emergency services then focused on fire control and psychological support for the fire brigade, who were supported by the crisis intervention team of the Red Cross of Lower Austria. The investigation into the cause of the fire has already begun and is being led by the Lower Austria State Criminal Police Office. An expert from the Federal Criminal Police Office was called in to clarify the circumstances of the fire. Those affected received further support from an acute team from Emergency Call Lower Austria and specially trained fire department peers.

Cause of fire and development

The exact cause of the fire is currently unclear. The investigation will be crucial in determining how this devastating incident occurred. In general, fire development can be divided into several phases. At the beginning there is the ignition phase, in which materials begin to burn openly. This is followed by the growth phase in which the fire spreads and increases in intensity. In the full fire phase, the fire finally reaches its maximum energy output and expansion before it enters the cooling phase, in which it is extinguished by extinguishing measures or due to a lack of fuel. [Wagnergroup] explains this process in detail.

After an evaluation of the frequency of fire damage, which analyzes the cause and circumstances, preventing fires is everyone's responsibility. [IFS-EV] argues that targeted fire prevention measures and regular training for possible causes are crucial to prevent catastrophic events like the one in Gmünd.

The tragic loss of two children and the serious injury of their mother are deeply mourned by the community. The support measures for the affected families and the work of the rescue workers are the focus of the subsequent response to this worst case of fire disaster.