Magdeburg (dpa / sa) - After a presumably deliberate fire in Magdeburg, four people had to be treated with smoke gas poisoning in the hospital.

Residents and passers-by noticed the fire in an apartment in Magdeburg on Sunday evening and dialed the emergency number, as the fire brigade announced.

"In several rooms there were sources of fire - among other things, pillows and clothes burned," said a spokeswoman.

When trying to put out the fire, four neighbors and passers-by injured themselves by inhaling smoke gases.

The tenant of the apartment was not at home at the time.

Since the cause of the fire was probably arson, the police started the investigation.