Fifteen fire brigades tackle two major fires in Styria

Fifteen fire brigades responded to two major fires in the Bruck-Mürzzuschlag district of Styria overnight, ORF reported. One broke out at an industrial facility in Kindberg, while another started in an apartment building in Bruck an der Mur.

The fire in Bruck an der Mur began shortly after midnight in a basement storage compartment near a gas transfer station, according to the fire brigade. Smoke and flames spread from the basement, leaving the escape route smoke-filled. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus evacuated residents to safety. No one was injured.

Five fire brigades fought the blaze, after which the building had to be ventilated. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are being investigated.

The second fire broke out in a wood-chip system at an industrial facility in Kindberg. An automatic fire alarm alerted firefighters shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday. The blaze was not extinguished until about 5 a.m. on Tuesday.

Firefighters said the operation was difficult: they had to remove the wood chips by hand, while heavy smoke meant the work had to be done using breathing apparatus. Ten fire brigades attended. The cause of the fire and the damage are still being assessed.