After the highest mountain farm in the Styrian municipality of St. Georgen am Kreischberg was destroyed by flames on New Year’s Eve, the population is very willing to help. Meanwhile, fire safety experts warn of the danger of batteries in appliances.
Two days after the devastating fire disaster in St. Georgen am Kreischberg, the community of 1,680 residents is still in deep shock. As reported, the city’s highest mountain farm was engulfed in flames on New Year’s Eve and the family of six lost the roof over their heads.
The carport in which three vehicles were parked also burned down completely. “The solidarity in the community is great,” Mayor Cäcilia Spreitzer reported to the “Krone” on Wednesday. This is reflected not least in the great wave of financial willingness to help: Astrid Brandstätter, sister-in-law of the affected family, launched a call for donations on the online platform “Gofundme” – after a short time the limit of 100,000 was reached euros reached. already exceeded.
After intensive investigation, the Styrian State Police, in collaboration with a fire expert, was able to identify the cause of the inferno. Sports equipment and children’s toys were also stored in the covered parking lot – “we assume that the fire was caused by a technical defect in a remote-controlled, battery-operated toy car and continued to develop in the carport,” reports Herbert Hasenbichler , the director of the Styrian State Fire Prevention Office.
The main causes of battery fires
How can fire start in batteries such as those used in various appliances in Styrian households?
“Typical household batteries have a relatively high risk of fire if they are overcharged, especially by an unsuitable charger,” warns fire protection expert Hasenbichler. There is also a risk of a so-called deep discharge: If the capacity of lithium-ion batteries (for example, electric grass trimmers) is completely exhausted, they also begin to burn easily – this is dangerous when wintering in cold cellars.
Improper storage is a “fire hazard”
Fires can also easily occur due to “mechanical damage to batteries, such as impact on hard ground or product defects,” says Hasenbichler. Storage that is too cold or too hot is also a ‘fire hazard’.
Source: Krone
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