“That’s not how I imagined the start of the summer holidays.” Director Thomas Heidinger had to watch helplessly on Monday as the roof of his school caught fire. The metre-high flames and dense clouds of smoke could still be seen and smelled a few kilometers away from the trade academy (HAK 1).
The principal of the school was one of the first to notice the fire. He was in the school building Monday morning. “It smelled strongly of smoke. The rescue chain worked perfectly. Everyone got out safely,” says Heidinger. Minutes later, the professional fire brigade and the volunteer fire brigade were on site. More than 100 men fought the powerful flames.
Insulating material may have burned during the fire-in of the roof. The rooms on the top floor quickly catch fire. Firefighters opened the roof to get to the flames. For safety reasons, the fire brigade was removed from the roof around 2 p.m. The extinguishing work was then carried out using turntable ladders. “An area of almost 1,100 square meters was on fire,” said Reinhold Ortner, fire director of the Salzburg Professional Fire Brigade.
A firefighter was injured. At 10 p.m. a second loading crane was requested. At midnight, the firefighting was still going on. The damage is extensive, including water damage.
The search for alternative departures is ongoing
“Many classrooms won’t even be usable when school starts,” Rudolf Mair is sure. The director of education assumes that at least 150 students will need replacement accommodation. “The search is already underway. Container classes in the parking lot in front of the school would be possible,” says Mair.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
