Fire destroys electric car and vintage Volkswagen in Kirchham

A garage and two vehicles were completely destroyed by fire early in the morning in Kirchham in Gmunden district, ORF reported. Firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to the adjacent home.

When the first emergency crews arrived, flames were already coming out of the garage. The alert level was raised immediately, and additional fire departments were called in. Nine fire departments and 130 personnel fought the fire from about 5 a.m.

The garage contained an electric vehicle and a vintage Volkswagen Beetle. Several crews wearing breathing apparatus were deployed. The garage itself also burned out.

“But we managed to prevent the flames from spreading to the house,” said Bernhard Hutterer, commander of the Kirchham fire department.

The Vöcklabruck fire department brought a special container for electric cars to handle the burning vehicle and determine whether its battery was still intact. The battery is now being flooded inside the container, and the vehicle will be kept in quarantine. The manufacturer will decide how long it remains there, Hutterer said.

The first fire departments were able to leave after about two hours. No one was injured, according to the fire department. The Red Cross was also at the scene with one vehicle. Police are investigating the cause of the fire.