Schlöben/Jena, 25.05.2026 – Careless handling of methylated spirits at a fire bowl led to severe burn injuries for a 14-year-old in Schlöben (Saale-Holzland-Kreis) on Sunday evening. The police have initiated an investigation into negligent bodily harm.
- Incident: Accident with methylated spirits at a fire bowl (suspicion of negligent bodily harm)
- Location: Schlöben (jurisdiction of the Landespolizeiinspektion Jena)
- Time: Sunday evening, 24.05.2026
- Parties involved: Four teenage girls
- Consequences: Severe burn injuries to a 14-year-old, initiation of criminal proceedings
Dangerous Carelessness at the Fire Bowl
On Sunday evening, a serious accident occurred in Schlöben, which ended with a young girl in the hospital. Four teenage girls had gathered privately around a fire bowl to end the weekend together. According to the Landespolizeiinspektion Jena, however, the flame in the fire bowl was not large enough for one 14-year-old.
The teenager then reached for a bottle of methylated spirits and carelessly poured the highly flammable liquid directly into the burning bowl. This immediately resulted in a massive flash fire that engulfed a nearby friend, also 14 years old.
Severe Burn Injuries and Investigation Proceedings
The victim suffered severe burns to one arm and one leg due to the sudden flash fire. The teenager had to be transported immediately to a nearby hospital, where her injuries require inpatient treatment. The police have initiated an investigation against the 14-year-old responsible for negligent bodily harm.
Incident Overview
- Crime Scene / Incident Location: Schlöben (Saale-Holzland-Kreis)
- Time of Incident: Sunday evening, May 24, 2026
- Suspect: 14-year-old girl
- Victim: 14-year-old girl (severely injured)
🛡️ Prevention & Emergency Behavior
Improper handling of liquid accelerants such as methylated spirits or gasoline repeatedly leads to devastating barbecue and fire accidents. The Landespolizeiinspektion Jena and regional fire departments urgently advise the following safety measures:
- Never pour liquid accelerants into an open fire or glowing embers. There is a risk of uncontrollable flash fires and dangerous deflagrations.
- Use only certified safety fire starters (e.g., solid starters or pastes).
- First Aid for Burns: Cool burn wounds immediately with lukewarm water (not ice cold!) to draw the heat out of the tissue. Then cover the wounds germ-free and immediately alert emergency services at the emergency number 112.
- For relevant information or witness reports, please contact the responsible Landespolizeiinspektion Jena at the telephone number 03641 81-0 or any other police station.
Source:
Police News Jena, 25.05.26: Press release PI Saale-Holzland
Transparency Note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.