Lightning Strike and Major Fire in Tschengels

Tyrol.

Schlanders, 26 July. On the 21st of this month, the parish community of Tschengels, which only four years ago lost three residential houses to an outbreak of fire and suffered significant damage to its church, was struck by the renewed misfortune of seeing five houses together with their agricultural outbuildings reduced to ashes with the utmost rapidity around two o'clock in the afternoon due to a lightning bolt that struck near the rectory. In addition to virtually all furniture and household goods, from which some parties were able to save only the clothes on their backs, the recently brought-in forage along with some gathered grain was also lost. The total damage of this disaster amounts, according to official assessment, to 13,099 fl. 8 kr. Viennese currency. At the same time, three persons were severely injured by the collapse of a burning canopy, about whose recovery no definitive assessment can yet be ventured. Although most of these buildings are insured, it is unfortunately only for an amount that bears no relation whatsoever to the actual value of the loss. Just as in the earlier fire, the entire gravely threatened neighbourhood, and above all the rectory, owes its preservation this time to the swift and energetic assistance of the surrounding and even the more distant communities of Laas, Eyrs, Prad, Schluderns, Glurns, Mals, and Burgeis, most of which brought their fire engines with them. Upon the request of the local parish priest and the community, this opportunity is taken to express renewed public thanks for this benevolent aid.