Room Fire in Ternberg Nursing Home – Employee Rescues Elderly Woman from Flames

Employee Acted Immediately

According to the account given by emergency services, the decisive action came from an employee of the home. She entered the smoke-filled room, brought the affected elderly woman out, and moved her to safety. Without this rapid intervention, the resident would have been exposed to a significantly higher risk, according to the fire department's assessment.

The elderly woman received medical care after the rescue and was subsequently taken to Steyr Hospital. No more detailed information was available in the morning regarding the severity of her injuries or her current condition. The operations command also initially provided no information on possible additional injured persons.

Large Deployment of Emergency Services

The alerted fire department responded with a large contingent of personnel. In addition to several fire engines, an aerial ladder platform was also deployed in order to be able to fight the fire on the second upper floor from the outside. According to the operations command, firefighting was made difficult by the heavy smoke development and the smoke filling of the stairwell.

In addition to the fire departments, the ambulance service, police, and the district alarm center were also involved in the operation. The rescue teams secured the area around the building, which was cordoned off over a wide perimeter during the operation. The water supply was also ensured via hydrants in the nearby area.

Manuel Gruber, operations commander of the fire department, coordinated the large-scale operation on site and expressly praised the composed behavior of the home's staff. Thanks to the rapid clearing of the adjacent areas and the clear communication, the fire was prevented from spreading to other parts of the building.

Investigations into the Cause of the Fire Are Underway

The property damage to the building is classified as substantial according to initial estimates. Primarily affected are the room where the fire originated as well as adjacent areas, which were impacted by smoke and heat. How many other residents had to be temporarily accommodated in alternative quarters was still unclear as of the morning.

The Steyr-Land district police have taken up investigations into the cause of the fire. According to initial police information, there are no indications of a cause relevant under criminal law. The investigations are focusing on technical defects or other everyday triggers.

In the Ternberg care home quarter, which on Pfarrhofstraße directly borders the residential area of the same name, a room fire of this magnitude is a rare event. Local residents had noticed the smoke from a considerable distance and alerted the rescue control center. The fire department subsequently expressly thanked the neighbors.

Reactions from the Quarter

The emergency services emphasized that the swift reaction of the employee, the clear evacuation of the building, and the coordinated interaction of all organizations involved had prevented a worse outcome. The operation was concluded after around 2 hours, although the overhaul and damping-down work continued for several more hours.

The KMM supported the emergency services with information on the building's structure, and the TV live stream OE24 reported live from the scene. The nursing home will be put back into operation step by step after clearance by the authorities, provided the affected areas can be released.

From the hospital, it was said only in the morning that the elderly woman who had been admitted was in stable condition and being cared for. Further information, particularly regarding possible long-term effects, was to follow during the course of the day.

Residents around Pfarrhofstraße were called on to avoid the area around the nursing home over a wide perimeter. The police set up a local diversion. Public transport was also temporarily affected, but according to the district alarm center, it was able to be reopened quickly.