Cable fire in Rotherbaum: 14 residents evacuated - fortunately no injuries!

Cable fire in Rotherbaum: 14 residents evacuated - fortunately no injuries!

On Friday evening, at 5:04 p.m., the fire brigade in Hamburg-Rotherbaum was alerted after a resident reported vibrations and flickering light from his apartment. To do this, he expressed the suspicion of a smell of fire. This alarmed call led to a use of 30 fire brigade, which found increased carbon monoxide values ​​on site. The decision was immediately made to ask the residents of federal road 9 and 11 to leave their apartments. A total of 14 people gathered on the street, while the cause research began.

A defective underground power cable was identified as the cause of the increased carbon monoxide concentration, which not only raised new security concerns, but also raised memories of past incidents. Fortunately, there were no injuries in this incident. The Hamburg energy works took over the repairs, and after the work was completed, the residents were allowed to return to their apartments around 7:30 p.m. The fire brigade recommended that the residents to ventilate their rooms well to drive away possible residues of the gases. MOPO reports that ...

A worrying topic: carbon monoxide

The latest events make a highlight of the dangers that emerge from carbon monoxide (CO). In Germany, around 5,000 people suffer poisoning through this smell, color and tasteless gas annually, which is generally referred to as "quiet murderer". It is particularly tragic that any help is too late for every tenth person concerned. Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin in the blood and thus blocks the oxygen absorption. This can lead to life-threatening lack of oxygen in important organs, especially in the brain, which can result in serious consequences such as loss of consciousness or even death [TÜV Süd that ...] (https://de-brandschutz-information-information portal.tuvsud.com/artikel/kohlenmonoxid-fahr.html).

In this context, it is of enormous importance to be sensitized. Frequent causes of the development of carbon monoxide are defective heating, gas boiler or chimney. Older devices and nostalgic wood stoves are a risk that should not be underestimated. In the worst case, co-poisoning can lead to a life-threatening situation untreated.

carbon monoxide incidents in Rotherbaum

The incident in the federal road also reminds of a dramatic event from the past. Almost four years ago, a 28-year-old woman died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a similar scenario in her apartment. Here, too, craftsmen were involved in a defective gas boiler, which were acquitted by the district court in October 2023, but were accused of negligent. Knowns of the late wife alerted the police in September 2021 because they could not reach them. The fire brigade already found the woman dead in her apartment, while a CO2 detector triggered during use. Six emergency services were injured due to the gas outlet. The lawsuit against the craftsmen will soon be reported NDR that ....

In view of the threatening water levels and incidents around carbon monoxide, it becomes clear that security has priority. In timely detection and compliance with security measures could not only save lives, but also strengthen the feeling of security in the neighborhood. Therefore, the future-oriented requirement of carrying out regular maintenance and installing CO warning detectors is extremely important for all households.