Major fire in Villingen-Schwenningen: Old town in flames, 3 injured!

Major fire in Villingen-Schwenningen: Old town in flames, 3 injured!

A major fire in the old town of Villingen-Schwenningen that broke out on Tuesday evening shocked the city community. According to reports from Antenna Münster Several buildings are affected, one of which has already partially collapsed. The haunting column of smoke that could be seen over the city made the drama of the situation obvious.

The fire was first reported at 6:27 p.m. when a balcony in a ground floor snack bar burst into flames. Despite the rapid alarm, the spread of the fire to other buildings in the narrow old town was a major challenge.

Many emergency services on site

Around 100 firefighters were deployed to bring the flames under control. The extinguishing work was made considerably more difficult by the historically grown and dense streets of the old town. Residents were asked to close windows and doors to protect themselves from the smoke. Three injured people, including a fellow firefighter and a resident who was treated for smoke inhalation, had to be treated in clinics, while another was treated on an outpatient basis.

The affected residents who had to be evacuated due to the fire found temporary shelter with family and friends. The city administration has already organized help so that people can quickly get back to their usual everyday lives.

Critical danger situation

Rescue workers and city officials, including the mayor, were on site to assess the situation and ensure the safety of everyone involved. Even adjacent buildings were cooled to prevent the fire from spreading further. The estimated extent of the damage is several million euros.

Interestingly, this incident draws parallels to another major fire that occurred just a few years ago, in June 2022, in one of the adjacent residential buildings. The middle of three houses built next to each other was affected, and the flames also spread to neighboring buildings. Fortunately, everyone in the house was able to get to safety in time, and the material damage was estimated at around 500,000 euros Fire department reporting shows.

The city still has a lot of work to do. The exact cause of the fire is still unknown, but criminal investigators have already begun their work to shed light on it. Villingen-Schwenningen is home to around 90,000 residents who live in this historic city with its unique old town.

Fire statistics and urban risk

The increasing numbers of major fires raise questions about urban fire risks. Already in 2023, a comprehensive report on fire statistics in 38 states was published, analyzing the development of urban fire risks. Information about such projects, such as CTIF with his project “100 CITIES – 100 YEARS – Evaluation Of Urban Fire Risks”, show how the causes of fire change over time and how important it is to establish preventive measures.

Good tracking of these events is critical to better assess future fires and ensure the safety of residents in urban areas. Those responsible will do everything in their power to soon leave the traces of this major fire behind them and restore the citizens' trust in the safety of their city.