Berlin high-rise fire injures five, forces resident to jump into firetruck basket

Fire breaks out in Friedrichrichshain high-rise

A fire broke out shortly after 6:27 a.m. on Friday, August 14, in a 21-story residential building on the Straße der Pariser Kommune in Berlin's Friedrichshain neighborhood, near the Ostbahnhof train station. The fire department was alerted at 6:27 a.m., according to Berliner Zeitung and Die Welt. Police initially reported a balcony fire, though the blaze ultimately started in an apartment on the 11th floor and spread to the unit above on the 12th floor. The cause was not immediately known.

Heavy smoke spread throughout the building, a fire department spokesperson told dpa. The fire was brought under control in under three hours, with subsequent extinguishing work and extensive ventilation measures underway. Firefighters remained on scene conducting follow-up operations.

Dramatic rescue operation

Residents stood at windows and threatened to jump as flames and smoke spread through the upper floors, the fire department spokesperson said. Jump pads were deployed on the ground by firefighters. One person was forced to jump into a firetruck's aerial basket, though it was not immediately known how far the person jumped. The spokesperson described the rescue operation as "dramatic."

The operation was "dramatic"; people stood at the windows and threatened to jump.

Several residents were rescued via aerial ladders and through the stairwell. At the time of the initial reports, people were still inside the building, according to Berliner Zeitung. The building was subsequently fully evacuated and all persons were rescued from the immediate danger zone, the spokesperson said.

Injuries and emergency response

The fire department spokesperson estimated five people were injured, though the exact number and severity of injuries were not immediately known. Approximately 70 people required on-site care at the scene. A rescue helicopter landed to transport individuals to hospitals if needed.

The fire department deployed more than 130 personnel, according to Die Welt and Tages Anzeiger, while Berliner Zeitung reported more than 110 firefighters on scene. The Straße der Pariser Kommune was closed in both directions between An der Ostbahn and Wriezener Karree. As the operation continued, a spokesperson told dpa that crews were still actively fighting the blaze.

We are still in the middle of fighting the fire.

Wildfire evacuation in western Germany

Separately, authorities ordered about 1,800 people to evacuate the village of Gey in western Germany in the early hours of Friday, after a wildfire spread toward the community close to the border with Belgium. The evacuation was ordered at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT), with municipality officials urging residents to carry only essential belongings, identification papers, and necessary medicines. An assistance centre was set up at a primary school in the nearby village of Strass.

On Thursday, officials said the wildfire had affected about 25 hectares (62 acres) of nearby woodland. Firefighters and emergency services battled to contain the flames, and the B399 road through the area was closed. Weather officials said large swathes of Germany face dry conditions and high forest fire risks.