20 minutes – "smoke detectors could save many lives"

Six asylum seekers lost their lives on Monday in a fire in Solothurn. The victims include children. "In sleep, you have no chance, you do not smell smoke, you do not even need to cough," says Walter Pfammatter of the Swiss Fire Brigade, "All you have to do is to inhale the smoke and you lose consciousness.

Sidebar: Who is responsible for a fire?

According to the House Owners Association Switzerland HEV, there is no general obligation in Switzerland regarding fire alarm systems for rental apartments used for residential purposes. "The fault does not depend on the presence of a fire detector," says Annekäthi Krebs, a lawyer at HEV. The person who provoked it was responsible for the fire in a building. Unlike commercial premises of a certain size, for example. "There is a duty of fire detectors.

Sascha Zollinger, commander of the Uster Fire Department, also said that a fire detector could be important, especially in case of smoke generation. "Because with his acoustic tone, he wakes up animals or asleep, it can save lives."

"A detector could probably have prevented a tragedy"

Walter Pfammatter would therefore warmly welcome the introduction of a smoke detector in Switzerland: "This could save the lives of many people," says Pfammatter. In several countries, such as Great Britain, the United States, Canada or the Netherlands, as well as in almost all German federal states, there is already a legal requirement for a smoke detector. In the United Kingdom, the number of people killed has decreased by about 40% since 1987.

Head of Security Bea Heim also wants to check the smoke detector's obligation: "A smoke alarm would probably have prevented this tragedy in Solothurn," said the woman of the PS. However, she suspects that many homeowners who have not yet installed smoke detectors will be able to install them. "Smoke detectors are available on the Internet from around 20 francs.

"Then the rent goes up"

In 2015, the cantonal insurance association VKF fire insurance, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, came to the conclusion that a smoke detector obligation in Switzerland no longer exists. # 39; had no economic meaning. Michael Binz, head of fire protection, explains: "Compared to the number of people we could save with a mandatory obligation, the costs of smoke detectors nationwide are far too high." In 2017, 14 people died as a result of a fire. On average, there are 20 to 25 every year, it is very rare that there is more than one person who dies in a fire. The VKF recommends the installation of fire detectors on a private basis.

The BDP National Council and firefighter Bernhard Guhl also calls for individual responsibility. "If all apartment buildings were to be equipped with smoke detectors, rental rates would increase." The obligations would involve considerable effort and expense. Nevertheless, he would suggest the devices to any owner. "Every tenant can voluntarily install a retail fire detector."