The fire brigade on duty in Gropiusstadt Photo: Spreepicture
By Dirk Boettger
On Friday morning at around 1:40 a.m., the fire brigade was alerted to a fire in a high-rise building on Severingstrasse in Berlin-Neukölln in the Gropiusstadt district.
Upon arrival, firefighters found a blazing shack in the basement. There it burned in an area of about ten square meters.
Toxic smoke gases quickly spread through the high-rise building. A man and a woman complained of respiratory problems and were treated at the scene by emergency paramedics.
The two injured were taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation, the fire department said on Friday.
The fire brigade at the basement fire in a high-rise building on Severingstrasse in Gropiusstadt Photo: Spreepicture
The fire brigade was able to extinguish the fire quickly. The high-rise building was then ventilated to push the toxic smoke gases out of the house.
Residents did not have to be evacuated and were able to stay in their homes, according to the fire service.
According to a spokesman for the fire brigade, a total of 50 emergency services were on site. A water supply line was also damaged in the fire.
The cause of the fire is still unclear, the police are investigating.