Reeperbahn TV

27th May 2025

Reeperbahn 35

Apartment fire claims fatality

On Monday evening at 10:08 p.m., the Hamburg Fire Department was alerted to a fire at the Regenbogenhaus on the Reeperbahn—a social housing facility run by Olli Zeriadtke that provides a home for people in difficult life situations.

Several callers reported flames and smoke – and people still in their rooms. When the first responders arrived, flames were shooting out of a room on the second floor. People were calling for help from a total of eleven windows. The fire department immediately began the rescue – all eleven people were brought out of the building using portable ladders. At the same time, firefighting operations began. Three jet pipes were used to bring the fire under control. At the same time, a senior emergency doctor and an organizational manager from the rescue service arrived to coordinate the care of those affected. Twenty-nine people were treated by the rescue service – none of them were injured. The operation was completed after about three hours. Targeted extinguishing work and ventilation measures prevented the flames from spreading to adjacent areas. However, the emergency services made a sad discovery in the apartment where the fire broke out: one person, “Arno,” could not be saved and was found dead.

The cause of the fire is currently unclear. The police have launched an investigation.