Joseph Lienbacher is only 21 years old and already a lifesaver. With his courageous and lightning-fast response, he probably saved two men from death by fire on the Postalm (Salzburg). Abtenauer told the “Krone” what had happened.
It was already after midnight – on a Wednesday evening. Joseph Lienbacher (21), HTL graduate and manager of the Postalm Bergbahnen in Abtenau, was still standing on the slope checking the snow cannons when he suddenly saw a light in the distance. “I went there and saw that the hut was on fire.” A fire had broken out in the inn “Blonde Hütte”.
Trekker also withdrew after saving lives
When Lienbacher reached the burning building, he and a colleague alerted the fire brigade. Two women had already fled to safety. But the 21-year-old was concerned about the lives of others: “I knew that the cabin tenant and a waiter were still sleeping inside, and I went in.” The local resident did not hesitate for a moment. Despite the blazing flames, he entered the building and woke the two men in time. “The fire was still on the other side at the time. It was quite smoky inside,” Lienbacher tells the “Krone” and emphasizes: “The fire was getting bigger by the minute.”
Meanwhile, 95 volunteer firefighters rushed to the scene in 15 vehicles. On arrival, large parts of the inn were already completely ablaze. Lienbacher had already accomplished the next heroic act: he pulled a tractor with a telehandler from the adjacent barn before the flames spread. And he even helped the fire brigade with the extinguishing work. “It must have been five thirty when I went to bed,” smiles the 21-year-old. The hutkeeper and the waiter said, “thank you very much after the excitement. It was a matter of minutes,” said the Abtenauer.
“Burn out” only in the early morning
Firefighters battled the flames for four hours, running water pipes from a hydrant and a nearby stream to the source of the fire. At daybreak, the “fire” stopped – at 6:30 the fire brigade returned. Linus Pilar, manager of the Postalm ski area, is audibly proud: “He is one of my young and up-and-coming employees. We hired him two years ago and he has grown to become operations manager. We are very happy to have him with us.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
