Halogen Bulb Caused Fire in Varaždin, 16-Year-Old Rescued
Four people, including a police officer who took part in the evacuation, sought medical help for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire was determined by an investigation.
Four people, including a police officer who took part in the evacuation, sought medical help for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire was determined by an investigation.
Yesterday morning, on August 4, 2026, a fire broke out in an apartment on the tenth floor of a residential building on Miroslava Krleže Street in Varaždin, ending with a dramatic rescue of a minor girl and injuries to four other people. According to the Varaždin Police Department, the cause of the fire was a halogen bulb.
The Operational Communications Center received a report of the fire at 11:35 AM. The call was made by the resident herself, a 16-year-old girl, who reported that a fire had broken out in her apartment and that she could not get out. Police officers from the Varaždin Police Station, along with firefighters from the Varaždin Public Fire Brigade and the Varaždin Volunteer Fire Department, were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, emergency services began evacuating the building's residents. Firefighters managed to rescue the 16-year-old girl from the burning apartment and carry her to safety. The girl was transported by ambulance to the Varaždin General Hospital, where she was kept for treatment due to smoke inhalation.
Medical assistance for the same reason was also provided to two other residents of the building. The fourth person to seek help was a police officer who, along with her colleague, participated in the evacuation of residents. This information was confirmed by the police.
The police investigation that followed determined the exact cause of the fire. The fire broke out in the dressing room area and was caused by a halogen bulb installed above a shelved wardrobe. The bulb ignited clothing and other items, after which the fire spread to the entire room.
Due to the high temperature, the glass panes on the doors of the bathroom, hallway, and dining room cracked. The walls of all rooms in the apartment are covered in soot. The police stated that the amount of material damage will be determined at a later stage.
