First New Year’s Eve balance – 31 fires and a partially torn hand

The 31-year-old had apparently torn a firecracker in his hand in Ansfelden, but it was a firecracker in the F3 category, which can only be fired with a technical knowledge course. Of course the Romanian, who had bought several heavy firecrackers in the Czech Republic, does not have them; the remaining firecrackers were taken from him. The 31-year-old suffered such serious injuries in the accident that he had to be taken to the accident hospital in Linz by the Red Cross. According to the first information, it concerns a partial amputation of the hand or fingers. At the hospital, the microsurgeons had already prepared to treat some kind of injury. After an 18-year-old in Seewalchen blew off part of his hand before New Year’s Eve, there have been two seriously injured fireworks victims this year.

Six slightly injured by fireworks
In Bad Goisern, a 14-year-old partygoer also injured his hand, but only slightly, and was taken to hospital in Bad Ischl. An F2 blast exploded in his hand. There were also five slightly injured people in the Linz area who had to be taken to hospitals with minor burns and injuries from fireworks and rockets. There were also some ‘alcoholic bodies’ and two young men who needed a doctor after an argument.

A stray rocket caused sudden hearing loss
In Wilhering, several people, including children, suffered hearing loss when a fireworks rocket exploded next to them. It had been fired by a 19-year-old nearby and had landed on the terrace. The facade, the carport and a stroller were also damaged. A complaint was filed against the 19-year-old

Facade threatened to catch fire
The national fire brigade command carried out 31 extinguishing operations during the night. But the good news is: “All the houses are still standing!” The most critical situation occurred in Pucking, where a seating area on the terrace of a house caught fire and the flames threatened to spread to the facade. A resident of the house (39) previously wanted to fire a rocket here, but because the shaft broke, it exploded on the ground and apparently caused a smoldering fire that later flared up again. The fire brigade was able to quickly get the fire under control and limit damage to a minimum. Across the state, hedgerows and rubbish bins were ablaze, deliberately or negligently set alight by fireworks.

Use due to weapons
There was a major police operation in Wels, where teenagers were shooting around with empty weapons and had also illegally set off numerous batteries of fireworks in the city area.