Schlöben, May 27, 2026. On Sunday evening, a cozy gathering at a fire bowl in Schlöben escalated: Due to the reckless use of methylated spirits, a 14-year-old girl suffered burn injuries from a flash fire. The police have initiated an investigation into negligent bodily harm.
- What: Accident due to improper handling of methylated spirits at a fire bowl
- When: Sunday evening, May 24, 2026
- Where: Schlöben (Saale-Holzland-Kreis)
- Who: Four teenagers, one injured 14-year-old, investigation against a friend of the same age
- Consequences: Burn injuries to arm and leg, hospital treatment, criminal proceedings
Dangerous Recklessness at the Fire Bowl
On Sunday evening, four teenage girls had gathered in Schlöben to end the Pentecost weekend together at a fire bowl. According to the Landespolizeiinspektion, the flame in the bowl was not large enough for one 14-year-old.
Intending to fan the fire, the girl poured methylated spirits directly from the bottle into the fire bowl. The chemical reaction followed promptly: a violent flash fire formed suddenly and spread uncontrollably.
Friend Suffers Burn Injuries
A 14-year-old friend standing nearby was unable to dodge the sudden wall of flames in time. She suffered burn injuries to her arm and leg due to the immense heat development. The teenager had to be admitted to a nearby hospital immediately for medical care.
An investigation into suspected negligent bodily harm was initiated ex officio against the person responsible.
🛡️ Prevention & Advice: Safe Handling of Grills and Fire Bowls
Liquid accelerants such as methylated spirits or gasoline pose extreme risks when grilling or operating fire bowls. The fire department and prevention experts strongly advise observing the following safety rules:
Do not use liquid accelerants: If liquid methylated spirits are poured into an already burning or glowing fire, the liquid evaporates instantly. An invisible, highly flammable gas mixture is created, which ignites explosively and can produce flash fires several meters long.
Use safe alternatives: Use only certified, solid fire starters (such as wood-wax pellets) or special lighting gels approved for this purpose.
Maintain safety distance: Children and teenagers should never act unsupervised at open fire pits. A safety distance of at least two to three meters from the embers should always be maintained.
Keep extinguishing agents ready: Always have suitable extinguishing agents such as sand, a fire blanket, or a suitable fire extinguisher ready for emergencies. Burning methylated spirits must never be extinguished with water, as this causes burning liquids to spread further uncontrollably.
Source:
Seriously injured due to improper handling of fire starters
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.