Rodent likely sparked Weyer house fire
Saturday 14th November 2026 on 07:15 in
Austria
A rodent probably caused a house fire in Weyer, in the Steyr-Land district, by damaging an electrical cable in the attic, ORF reported. Investigators believe the damage caused a short circuit that started the fire.
The Upper Austria State Criminal Police Office, a district fire investigator and an expert from the Upper Austria Fire Prevention Office examined the cause. They said the animal had likely damaged a loosely laid cable.
The fire broke out shortly before midnight on November 11 in an attic apartment. A 24-year-old German man woke to the smell of smoke in his bedroom, alerted neighbours and called emergency services.
No one was in the building when firefighters and police arrived. Fire crews quickly brought the blaze under control, and no one was injured. Ten fire brigades attended, with 112 personnel.