Three deaths after a devastating fire in the Hamburg Marienkrankenhaus

Three deaths after a devastating fire in the Hamburg Marienkrankenhaus

In the night of June 1, 2025, a devastating fire broke out in the Marienkrankenhaus in Hamburg-Hohenfelde. This tragic event led to the death of three patients, as a fire brigade spokesman confirmed. Details on other injuries have not yet been published. The fire started on the ground floor of the geriatric department and quickly spread to the first floor. Firefighters were deployed with a large contingent to combat the flames and bring people to safety over windows. Despite the rapid intervention of the emergency services, the rooms in the clinic were badly affected and burned out completely. The exact cause of the fire and the extent of property damage are currently still unclear. The Marienkrankenhaus is one of the largest denominational hospitals in northern Germany and has around 600 beds in which around 93,000 patients are treated annually

causes of fire and security in hospitals

The fire statistics of the BVFA - Federal Association of Technical Brand Protection e.V. - show that the number of fire victims in hospitals, nursing homes and social institutions remained high in 2024. In Germany, 114 fires were registered in hospitals last year, which led to seven deaths and 148 injuries. The most common causes of fires are negligent or intentional arson (43 %), technical defects in electrical systems or devices (31 %) as well as smoking under risky conditions (15 %), especially close to oxygen devices. This represents a significant risk for the weakest members of our society, especially in medical institutions.

uncontrolled spread of toxic fire smoke is a common danger that is reinforced by inadequate structural fire protection measures or organizational defects. Sprinkler systems could make a decisive contribution to minimizing the risk of fires and limiting their consequences. These systems usually react quickly by becoming active in the immediate vicinity of the stove and thus containing the flames.

Sprinkler systems have not yet been widespread in German care and retirement homes. While this technology is considered effective in countries such as Great Britain and the USA, a fundamental reform in fire protection in German health facilities seems necessary. Dr. Wolfram Krause, Managing Director of the BVFA, warns of a consistently high risk of fire with a tendency to increase, which represents a worrying development.

more than ever it becomes clear how important effective fire protection measures and the use of modern technology are in such facilities. The horror message from the deaths throws a shadow on security in our health facilities and apparently makes the need for preventive measures and better equipment to combat fires.