Due to the heavy smoke, several buildings were evacuated and the streets in the area were closed to traffic. The fire department was able to bring the fire under control with several respiratory protection teams. According to the Red Cross, twelve people were slightly injured.
Highest alert level
The alarm was triggered by a fire alarm system. The first firefighters to arrive on the scene immediately upgraded the fire to the highest alert level – alert level 4 – reported Flachgau district fire brigade commander Klaus Lugstein. By midday the last embers were extinguished and work began to ventilate the basement. The approximately 200 employees from several companies affected by the evacuation were able to return to their workplaces at lunchtime.
180 firefighters on duty
The fire investigation by the State Criminal Police Office and a fire expert revealed that the fire broke out during “hot work” on a construction site. It was initially not possible to find out whether it was welding, grinding or scarfing. There were no indications of arson. In total, half a dozen fire departments with around 180 personnel were deployed. On the webcam at Salzburg Airport, dark clouds of smoke might be seen at times near the outlet center.
12 people slightly injured
As a spokeswoman for the Salzburg Red Cross said, eleven of the twelve slightly injured people were taken to the state hospital with suspected smoke poisoning, and one woman wanted to seek medical treatment on her own. Those affected mainly complained of coughing and headaches. The amount of damage caused has not yet been determined.
