A Single Spark

When a woman caught on fire at a barbecue, Ralph Tölke acted immediately

- Annette Lübbers

BARBARA HENNING DOES NOT believe in coincidences.

The pub owner from Blomberg in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia has sported a tattoo of a phoenix on her right upper arm for several years. Time and again, this bird from Greek mythology bursts into flames, only to be reborn from the ashes. Since September 20 last year, the 54-year-old has also felt like she has been reborn from the fire.

Henning, a mother of three grown children, actually wanted to work at her pub, Bei Heini, that day. But then the chef, who was supposed to cater a barbecue for a local company, cancelled at the last minute. One of her trainees, her daughter Leoni, and her boyfriend Ralph Tölke, who were helping with the catering, were already there. Ninety guests were expected. Unwilling to leave the three of them alone with the responsibility, Henning drives there herself.

The guests arrive gradually. To keep the food warm, Henning sets up eight large stainless-steel containers. Canned fuel paste provides the necessary heat underneath them. Diagonally behind the boss, Ralph Tölke and the apprentice sizzle steaks and sausages on two gas-powered barbecue stations. A little further away, 20-year-old Leoni is pouring beer.

Normally, it takes about three hours for the fuel paste in the cans to burn out. But on this day, the fires go out after just an hour. Henning suspects that might be due to the wind.