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Fire brigade operation (symbol image)
Photo: Julian Stratenschulte / dpa
Although thick clouds of smoke spread in his apartment, a man in Soest continued to play on his Playstation console.
Rescue workers were amazed when the residents of the smoke-filled rooms did not let themselves be disturbed while gambling despite the arrival of firefighters, said a fire department spokesman.
The Soester Anzeiger had previously reported.
Several passers-by had dialed the emergency number on Wednesday because smoke had come out of a window in the apartment building and the smoke alarm could be heard.
The firefighters went into the house with breathing apparatus and gained access to the apartment, from which, according to a fire department spokesman, "thick swaths of noise" were already emerging.
"The view was already severely restricted, the furnishings could only be made out vaguely," he said according to the "Soester Anzeiger".
Man remained unharmed
The resident was not bothered by it, he sat at the television and played on the console.
It is not known which game so captivated him.
According to the fire brigade, he had apparently forgotten a saucepan with Bolognese sauce on the stove.
"It wouldn't have been long before it ignited," said the spokesman.
The man did not notice anything from the alarm system, the smoke or the arrival of the emergency services.
He was escorted outside and was unharmed.
ptz / dpa