Fröndenberg prison hospital fire under investigation

A fire at the Fröndenberg prison hospital is being investigated by prosecutors, with a cigarette in an inmate's bed suspected as the potential cause. A 38-year-old inmate suffered serious injuries due to smoke inhalation and was unable to be questioned at the time of the report.

The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Justice confirmed that smoking is permitted within the psychiatric ward of the correctional hospital, unlike other areas of the facility. This policy is maintained for medical reasons: for regular smokers, a sudden cessation of nicotine can cause psychotropic drugs to accumulate in the body, potentially leading to a dangerous overdose.

While the prison hospital uses flame-retardant mattresses, officials noted that combustible items such as clothing, bedding, or personal belongings are inevitably present in cells. Investigators are currently working to determine whether the fire was caused by negligence or was an intentional act of arson.