Overview

• The fire erupted around 22:12 Monday in a fifth-floor apartment of a Wilhelmshaven high-rise.
• A man and his cat were found dead in the burned unit.
• Roughly 80 firefighters and 31 rescue personnel arrived within minutes.
• Crews attacked the blaze while evacuating upper floors via a smoke-free stairwell.
• Twenty-one residents were assessed with mostly minor injuries, one firefighter suffered a minor hand injury, and most occupants returned after safety checks and a fire watch.