At around 9.50am, police received a report of a fire in the basement of an apartment building in Pétange. According to initial information, a man had broken into the basement overnight and had washed his clothes there. To dry them, he had hung them over an electric grill before falling asleep alongside it. The clothes then caught fire.
The build-up of smoke was picked up by a resident of the building, who alerted the fire brigade. Crews were able to rescue the man, who had been asleep, from the basement. He refused medical treatment. The building had to be ventilated by rescue crews before the residents were allowed back in.
Police points out that in this context basements and garages should always be kept locked. Any suspicious observations should be reported to police. Further advice and tips are available on the police website.
