In the first quarter of 2025, fire services responded to 2,145 incidents involving burning residential buildings, leading to the deaths of 46 individuals and injuries to 196 others, according to a report from the National Directorate General for Disaster Management.

This represents an increase of 206 incidents compared to the same period last year, during which there were 31 fatalities and 145 injuries.

To extinguish the fires that occurred in these first three months, a total of 1,647 hours of firefighting efforts were recorded, involving 4,176 fire service vehicles.

The authorities reported that 23,952 square meters of built-up area were burned, with 324 homes rendered uninhabitable, necessitating temporary relocation for 838 individuals.

The spokesperson highlighted that most fires originated from chimneys, accounting for nearly 22% of all incidents.

Kitchen-related fires made up 12%, while bedroom fires constituted 11%, and living room fires accounted for 6%.

The causes of these fires have been attributed to electrical issues, heating system failures, use of open flame, chimney conditions, cooking, smoking, and waste burning.

Notably, there were two tragic incidents resulting in double fatalities: two bodies were discovered on January 11 in Makó and another two on March 17 in Kisláng.

The most significant fire requiring firefighting intervention occurred on January 24 in the ninth district of the capital, where multiple explosions led to a blaze in a first-floor apartment.

Approximately 40 firefighters responded with 15 vehicles, and the operation lasted over six hours.

The highest number of injuries occurred during a fire on March 8 in a ten-storey building in Budapest's XIX district, where a refrigerator ignited in an eighth-floor flat.

Smoke from the apartment spread to the upper floors, prompting firefighters to evacuate 15 individuals while extinguishing the fire with a powder extinguisher.

Eight people experienced smoke poisoning in this incident.

The disaster management agency initiated 99 fire investigations to ascertain the exact origins, timing, and causes of the blazes, with 34 cases raising suspicions of arson.

Firefighting efforts were complicated by gas canisters in 99 buildings and solar panels in 16 cases.

In the first quarter, the fire brigade was alerted to carbon monoxide incidents 294 times, a decrease compared to 391 alerts in the previous year.

Meanwhile, 63 people suffered varying degrees of carbon monoxide poisoning last year, with 45 affected this year, leading to six deaths last year versus three this year.

Carbon monoxide is produced when devices using open flame are operated in enclosed spaces without adequate ventilation.

Continuous and automatic ventilation is crucial in such areas, and installing air inlets in windows is recommended over occasional airing.

Positioning carbon monoxide detectors near all open flame equipment, such as heating, cooking, and water heating appliances, is advisable.

The spokesperson noted that only four of the more than two thousand affected buildings had smoke detectors, despite the fact that these devices can save lives and property by providing early warnings.

Early detection of fires significantly increases the chances of extinguishing them or evacuating residents safely while notifying firefighting services.

Furthermore, it is suggested that smoke detectors be installed in kitchens, bedrooms, or living rooms to mitigate fire risks.

Advanced smoke detectors that not only emit loud alarms but also send alerts to mobile devices are available, providing practical protection for vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly living alone.