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Burning wreaths, deadly fires and animal rescues: Christmas Eve kept Hungarian firefighters on nonstop alert
Hungarian firefighters were kept busy throughout Christmas Eve, responding to a total of 179 emergency call-outs nationwide, according to the National Directorate General for Disaster Management. The incidents ranged from house fires and carbon monoxide leaks to road accidents and animal rescues, with one tragic fatality reported.
Dozens of fires, several homes left uninhabitable
Fire crews were alerted to 47 fire-related incidents on 24 December, 30 of which involved residential buildings. In several cases, the fires caused such severe damage that residents were forced to leave their homes, the National Directorate General for Disaster Management reported.
In the early hours of the morning, a family house in Szรกzhalombatta caught fire in the attic space. Although firefighters managed to extinguish the flames, the property became uninhabitable, and the occupant had to move in with relatives. A similar incident occurred later in the day in รnod, where the roof structure of a family home caught fire, forcing five residents to seek temporary accommodation.
In Esztergom, a kitchen fire broke out in a terraced house shortly after 9 PM, spreading to the attic and the roof of a neighbouring property. Firefighters removed three gas cylinders from the building, but the flat was left unfit for habitation, and five people were displaced.
Advent wreaths and decorative fireplaces among fire causes
Several fires were linked to festive decorations and heating appliances. In Pรผspรถkladรกny, an advent wreath caught fire and ignited a nearby sofa, requiring fire brigade intervention. In Gyลrzรกmoly, flames from a decorative fireplace set nearby decorations, furniture and a television alight, although residents managed to contain the blaze before firefighters arrived.
A further fire in Szeged affected a third-floor flat in a block of flats, where an elderly woman had to be rescued using a ladder truck. Ten residents were temporarily evacuated but were later allowed to return home.
Fatal fire in Hajdรบszovรกt
Christmas Eve claimed one life when a fire broke out in a habitable outbuilding attached to a family home in Hajdรบszovรกt shortly after 5 AM. An elderly woman was rescued from the blaze but later died as a result of her injuries.
Carbon monoxide incidents across the country
Firefighters responded to seven carbon monoxide-related incidents, most of them caused by gas cookers, water heaters or convectors. In several locations, including Bรฉkรฉscsaba, Csepel and Budapestโs 13th district, faulty gas appliances were identified as the source of the dangerous gas.
In Kishartyรกn, two people suffered carbon monoxide poisoning after meat was grilled on a gas burner inside a poorly ventilated garage, where oxygen depletion led to the build-up of toxic fumes.
Traffic accidents and heavy machinery fire
Emergency services were also required at multiple road accidents, where firefighters helped free passengers trapped inside vehicles following collisions on main roads and motorways, including the M5 motorway and Route 47 near Algyล.
Meanwhile, an excavator caught fire near Dunafรถldvรกr on Route 61 and burned out completely. Traffic was restricted to one lane while firefighters extinguished the blaze.
Firefighters rescue trapped animals
Not all incidents ended in tragedy. In Szerencs, firefighters rescued a kitten trapped in a gutter, while in Csepel, a bird was freed from a chimney on top of a four-storey residential building.
Authorities urge residents to look out for one another
Firefighters were also called out 23 times to assist elderly or ill people living alone who had not been heard from for days or had fallen and were unable to get up.
The disaster management authority has urged residents to check regularly on elderly neighbours and relatives, stressing that a simple phone call or visit could save lives. In emergencies or if someone cannot be reached, the public is reminded to call the 112 emergency number immediately.