Gay Mayor Rescues Neighbors From Fire

Berlin's popular and openly gay mayor, Klaus Wowereit, has further expanded his fan base after he warned neighbors the roof was on fire, and consoled them with champagne in a local restaurant afterwards.

Wowereit was celebrating New Years with his partner Joern Kubicki in their apartment when Kubicki saw smoke coming from the roof. Kubicki quickly called the fire brigade while Mayor Wowereit warned the neighbors by running door to door.

"We were sitting there eating our chocolate fondue when [Wowereit ] rang the bell and shouted 'The building is on fire!'" neighbor Gerd Luetjen told German newspaper The Bild.

"I tried to warn other neighbors but Wowereit had already been everywhere."

Firefighters managed to put out the fire, which was most likely caused by a firecracker gone stray. A spokesperson for the fire department said that there could easily have been serious injuries if it wasn't for the quick reaction of Wowereit and Kubicki.

The residents of the building took refuge in a local Greek restaurant while the firefighters put out the blaze where Wowereit bought champagne for them. They were able to return to their homes later the same night.

"Fortunately no one was injured and his flat did not suffer any damage," said Wowereit's spokesman Michael Donnermeyer.