Fire in the rehabilitation clinic in Dobel: 267 patients brought to safety

Due to a fire in a rehabilitation clinic in Dobel (Calw district), 267 patients were brought to safety. Four people were taken to hospital with suspected smoke inhalation, the fire department said.

The health center's fire alarm system triggered an alarm during the night. “On the way there, a visible development of smoke confirmed the fire to us,” said operations manager and fire brigade commander Sven Schatz. Employees from the specialist clinic for orthopedics and oncology began to take the patients out of the building.

The firefighters reached the source of the fire behind a station door on the first floor. “There they found a patient sitting in a wheelchair who had already started extinguishing the fire together with a nurse,” said Schatz.

The fire brigade operation lasted until the early hours of the morning. According to the fire department, 32 patients were taken to other houses in the health center, the rest were able to return to their rooms. The affected station remains closed for the time being due to the strong smell of smoke.

Because of the smell of smoke, around 40 rooms are currently no longer habitable, said a fire department spokeswoman. How long is unclear. The rooms need to be cleaned. The police are investigating the cause of the fire and the amount of damage.