Tenants Left Homeless by Cellar Fire on 1st Advent
A six-story building was engulfed by flames on Saturday morning, causing tenants to lose their homes. The fire department was called at approximately 10:40 a.m. and discovered several cupboards on fire in the cellar.
Initially, the tenants were allowed to remain in their apartments while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. However, when state investigators arrived around 2:30 p.m. and detected a persistent smell of burning smoke and rising smoke from the cellar, the fire department was required to resume extinguishing efforts.
The thick smoke that rapidly spread throughout the building posed a potential danger to the residents. Concerned for their safety, emergency services evacuated the building.
Single mother Gonta K. (29), who lives on the third floor, went against protocol and endangered herself and her two children (Sascha, 11, and Markus, 3) by venturing through the smoke-filled stairwell in an attempt to escape before the emergency services could arrive. Fortunately, no one was harmed. "I was terrified for my children," says the 29-year-old.
All of Gonta's belongings were left behind in the smoke-filled apartment, including essential documents and clothing for her sons. The small family is currently staying with a friend temporarily.
Bassem A. (46), living on the 4th floor, was alerted to the fire by a neighbor and chose to take the elevator down, putting himself at risk. "I managed to retrieve my cell phone but my wheelchair charging cable remained in the apartment," says Bassem A. A neighbor initially took him in.
While firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, emergency services made their way through the building to ensure all residents had safely evacuated. "In some instances, doors had to be forced open to ascertain that no individuals remained inside," explains a police spokesperson.
Additional Insights:
The LiMa Residence Court (Lehm and Marmor Hofgenossenschaft) in Berlin is a subsidized residential complex comprised of 48 apartments. With an innovative design by Herman Hertzberger - showcasing D-shaped buildings, terraced levels, balconies, and a garden - residents were encouraged to contribute to the construction process and ownership of the complex through the Self-Construction Cooperative Berlin and the "Muscle Mortgage" system, respectively.
This involved reduced rents and self-governance for the tenants. However, the LiMa Residence Court has been managed by Wohnbau Nord (WBN) after the rental agreement with the cooperative ended in 2011, and in 2018 the property was sold to the municipal housing association Wohnbau Mitte mbH (WBM).
The provided sources do not contain detailed information about the long-term living arrangements for the affected tenants following the cellar fire. As a result, it's essential to consult local authorities or specific reports for updates on their situation.
