Double danger in Hettstedt: Clinic burns down again! 63 people evacuated

A fire broke out on Tuesday in the Helios Clinic Hettstedt, in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, which was a shocking moment for many. Around 63 people, including 51 patients and 12 employees, had to be evacuated, as MDR reported. Fortunately, everyone remained unharmed, which is a real stroke of luck in such situations.

An alert employee noticed smoke coming from a patient's room and immediately raised the alarm. Despite attempts to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, the situation developed quickly. One room was completely on fire, and another and the hallway suffered damage. Firefighters rushed to the scene and were able to extinguish the fire, also reported Medical Journal.

Investigations are ongoing

The police have started investigating the cause of the fire. There is currently no information as to whether the arson was negligent or intentional. The investigators from Eisleben are keeping an eye on what happened and results are expected by the end of the week. It remains to be seen what the reasons behind this incident are.

It is noteworthy that this was not the first fire within the clinic. Back in June, the fire department had to go on an operation that resulted in property damage amounting to around 250,000 euros. No people were injured in this incident either. Given the frequency of fires in the clinic, the connection between the two incidents is now being examined in more detail.

Fire risks in healthcare facilities

The frequency of fires in clinics and care facilities is a topic that is being discussed more and more by the public. Figures from the Federal Association of Technical Fire Protection e.V. (bvfa) show that there were a total of 117 fires in hospitals in Germany in 2023, in which five people died and 149 were injured, as Feuertrutz writes. The statistics show an alarming development - the number of fires has doubled compared to previous years.

The patients and residents who are often particularly affected are often dependent on help and are limited in their ability to save themselves. The reasons for this are often a lack of technical fire protection measures, such as a lack of sprinkler systems. These could significantly reduce injuries and property damage, as has been proven in the USA.

The incidents at the Helios Clinic in Hettstedt are an urgent appeal to all decision-makers to take preventive measures. The safety of patients and staff must come first so that such situations can be avoided in the future.