Cinnamon instead of gas: Fire brigade saves from surprising danger in Wels!

Cinnamon instead of gas: Fire brigade saves from surprising danger in Wels!

On August 24, 2025, the fire department in Wels-Vogelweide, Upper Austria, was called into action after an intense smell of gas was reported in an apartment building. The emergency services that arrived quickly, consisting of the fire department, police and rescue services, immediately took the first measurements.

Surprisingly, it turned out that there was no danger from gas. Instead, a distinctive smell of cinnamon was noticed. The reason for this was a woman who had worked with cinnamon in her apartment. This unusual cause brought relief to emergency services, who were already concerned about the safety of residents.

Supplied on site

The affected woman received treatment on site from the emergency services. The operation, which was initially worrying due to the suspected smell of gas, was quickly ended. The fire department and police determined that there were no further hazards and were able to complete their work without major complications. It shows once again how important quick reactions to volatile situations are.

Viewed in a broader context, this incident highlights the challenges facing fire and rescue services worldwide. According to a report from CFS CTIF, which provides a comprehensive analysis of fire statistics for 2022, it is often not easy to distinguish between harmless and dangerous situations. During the period from 2018 to 2022, data on fire service operations was collected in 55 countries, detailing the type of operations and the causes of fires. These statistics are crucial to understanding how effectively emergency services around the world can operate and the challenges they face. In particular, these reports provide fire departments with valuable information so that they can better assess similar situations in the future.

Overall, the incident in Wels-Vogelweide shows how important it is to take possible dangers seriously, but also how quickly the situation can be cleared up with clear explanations. Such operations contribute to community safety and are an essential part of the work of emergency services.

Further details on the latest fire statistics and analysis can be found in CTIF's report, which documents fire service performance worldwide and highlights issues that should be addressed to improve effectiveness and safety. The full report can be viewed on the CTIF website.

For more information about the incident in Wels-Vogelweide, please read the detailed article on FireWorld or WT1.