Major fire in Dresden State Operetta – future of the building uncertain!

Major fire in Dresden State Operetta – future of the building uncertain!

A devastating fire hit the old state operetta in Dresden-Leuben on Saturday night and largely destroyed the building. Loud Day24 The damage is estimated at over one million euros. It took the fire department around 18 hours to complete the extinguishing efforts after the emergency services arrived at around 7:37 p.m. When they arrived, open flames and heavy smoke were visible. The roof structure in the front part has collapsed, while the rear part of the building has completely collapsed.

The fire brigade was deployed with around 150 people and was supported by the Technical Relief Agency (THW). Despite the threat that the fire could spread to neighboring residential buildings, these were spared major damage. However, residents were asked to keep windows and doors closed as a large cloud of smoke drifted towards Großzschachwitz and Heidenau.

The consequences of the fire

The prestigious building, which has over 240 years of tradition, has been empty since 2016, when the ensemble moved to the Mitte power plant. A feasibility study on the future of the state operetta should help with further steps with public participation. The plan is to discuss proposals for possible future use of the building in the Leuben City District Advisory Council on June 26th. In the past, various possible uses such as a high school or integration into the cultural and creative industries were discussed.

The city administration is responding quickly to ensure the safety of the surrounding area. All entrances and windows in the building should be sealed with panels by the weekend. The initial costs for security have so far amounted to around 32,000 euros. As part of the investigation, police fire investigators are taking action to clarify the causes of the devastating fire. The cause of the fire is currently unclear, so the investigation remains focused.

The challenges for the fire department

According to Saxon The fire brigade was faced with a challenge not only because of the size of the fire, but also ensuring the safety of the emergency services had top priority. A firefighter had to be treated on an outpatient basis due to circulatory problems, but fortunately there were no other injuries. The Pirnaer Landstrasse was completely closed during the operation, traffic can now flow again, but the operation also had an impact on the Dresden public transport company's tram traffic.

The current fire situation in urban centers, as highlighted by the CTIF statistical magazine, shows the ongoing risks that fire departments are confronted with. As part of the “100 CITIES – 100 YEARS” project, the development and risk from fires is analyzed, which is also relevant for Dresden and related urbanized areas. This reports on this CTIF and raises important questions about the development of fire risks and urban safety trends.