Three injured after cellar fire at Podersdorf guesthouse

Three people were taken to hospital with suspected smoke inhalation after a cellar fire at a guesthouse in central Podersdorf on Saturday morning, ORF reported. Five fire brigades were called to the scene.

The alarm was raised shortly before 4 a.m. after the owner noticed the fire and told all guests to leave the building. Firefighters said heavy smoke had already spread to the first floor.

Because of the smoke and the size of the cellar, the firefighting operation was initially difficult. Crews eventually flooded the cellar with firefighting foam through a cellar window, bringing the fire under control after about three hours.

Three people, including a firefighter, were treated by emergency services and then taken to hospital with suspected smoke inhalation. About 85 firefighters, along with police and emergency medical crews, took part in the operation.

Additional fire brigades left the scene at about 9 a.m. The Podersdorf volunteer fire brigade then set up a fire watch and was due to continue extinguishing hot spots until the evening. The cause of the fire was not known. Police fire investigators began examining the scene.