Hamburg – People stood at the windows, desperately screamed for help on Sunday night. Fire inferno in Petra Knecht’s “Kiez-Pension” on the Reeperbahn.
According to initial investigations, flames suddenly blazed in one of the guest rooms at around 12:27 a.m. emergency calls! Fire trains raced to the sinful mile. Grand Operation!
A person jumped from the 2nd floor onto a canopy, seriously injuring his ankle. Another person suffered second-degree burn injuries, a police spokesman said on Sunday morning. At least five people were taken to hospital and others suffered minor injuries.
A total of 47 people were rescued from the home, including three children. 40 residents had to be housed in emergency shelters for the time being.
Flames are shooting out of one of the windows in the “Kiez-Pension”. A tenant escaped the flames by jumping out of a window
The “Boutique Bizarre” is located directly below the burning guesthouse on the ground floor. Kiez strollers rummaged around between dildos, erotic films and vinyl and leather outfits. Women tried on hot lingerie. Suddenly shouts: “Everyone out, everyone out immediately!” The “Boutique Bizarre” is cleared.
The fire brigade meanwhile rushes to the guest house wearing respiratory protection and begins the evacuation there as well. Acrid smoke spreads.
The fire brigade set up a turntable ladder in front of the “Boutique Bizarre”.
The situation at the back to Seilerstrasse is dramatic. Paramedics take care of the seriously injured man on the canopy. But on the 2nd floor, the fire spread to another room via the hallway. There’s a man at the window. The flames blaze behind him. The fire brigade suddenly has water problems when extinguishing.
A scaling ladder is hoisted onto the canopy. It is not stable at first and needs to be corrected once more. Finally, the man manages to be rescued via the ladder. A minute later a deflagration – the flames hit the window where the man was standing…
Other residents were rescued by aerial ladder and stairwell on the Reeperbahn.
Several rooms were damaged in the fire. The fire brigade was on duty with over 140 rescuers
What is the “Kiez-Pension”?
Petra Knecht (63) offers rooms there for around 400 euros including rent, 57 tenants live on five floors – drinkers, ex-cons, stranded people. Mostly men, few women.
The cause of the fire is still unclear, according to police. Also the exact number of injured people. The Reeperbahn was completely closed to car traffic during the extinguishing work.
It is not yet clear how the fire broke out in the guesthouse