A method for fire detection according to the scattered light principle, having the following steps: a) radiating light pulses of a first wavelength λ 1 into a scattered light volume and measuring a first scattered radiation intensity I 1F generated by forward scattering in the scattered light volume; b) radiating light pulses of a second wavelength λ 2 into the scattered light volume and measuring a second scattered radiation intensity I 2F generated by forward scattering in the scattered light volume, wherein the second wavelength λ 2 is greater than the first wavelength λ 1, c) determining a first quotient Q1 from the first and second scattered radiation intensity I 1F, I 2F and comparing the first quotient Q1 with a first and second comparison value F0, S0, wherein the first comparison value F0 is greater than the second comparison value S0, and d) if the first quotient Q1 lies between the first and the second comparison value F0, S0: e) radiating light pulses of the second wavelength λ 2 into the scattered light volume and measuring a third scattered radiation intensity I 2R generated by backward scattering in the scattered light volume, f) determining a second quotient Q2 from the first and third scattered radiation intensity I 1F, I 2R and comparing the second quotient Q2 with a third comparison value F, and g) outputting a fire alarm if the second quotient Q2 exceeds the third comparison value F. a) radiating light pulses of a first wavelength λ 1 into a scattered light volume and measuring a first scattered radiation intensity I 1F generated by forward scattering in the scattered light volume; b) radiating light pulses of a second wavelength λ 2 into the scattered light volume and measuring a second scattered radiation intensity I 2F generated by forward scattering in the scattered light volume, wherein the second wavelength λ 2 is greater than the first wavelength λ 1, c) determining a first quotient Q1 from the first and second scattered radiation intensity I 1F, I 2F and comparing the first quotient Q1 with a first and second comparison value F0, S0, wherein the first comparison value F0 is greater than the second comparison value S0, and d) if the first quotient Q1 lies between the first and the second comparison value F0, S0: e) radiating light pulses of the second wavelength λ 2 into the scattered light volume and measuring a third scattered radiation intensity I 2R generated by backward scattering in the scattered light volume, f) determining a second quotient Q2 from the first and third scattered radiation intensity I 1F, I 2R and comparing the second quotient Q2 with a third comparison value F, and g) outputting a fire alarm if the second quotient Q2 exceeds the third comparison value F. e) radiating light pulses of the second wavelength λ 2 into the scattered light volume and measuring a third scattered radiation intensity I 2R generated by backward scattering in the scattered light volume, f) determining a second quotient Q2 from the first and third scattered radiation intensity I 1F, I 2R and comparing the second quotient Q2 with a third comparison value F, and g) outputting a fire alarm if the second quotient Q2 exceeds the third comparison value F.