Great fire in Dresden State Operetta - the future of the building uncertain!

Great fire in Dresden State Operetta - the future of the building uncertain!

Leuben, Deutschland - A devastating fire hit the old state operetta in Dresden-Leuben on Saturday night and largely destroyed the building. According to tag24 the damage is estimated at over one million euros. The fire brigade took around 18 hours to complete the extinguishing measures after the alarmed emergency services came around 7:37 p.m. Open flames and strong smoke development were already visible on arrival. The roof structure in the front part has collapsed, while the rear part of the building has completely decayed.

The fire brigade was in use with around 150 forces, supported it by the Technical Relief Agency (THW). Despite the threat that the fire could spread to adjacent residential buildings, these were spared greater damage. However, the residents were asked to keep windows and doors closed because a large cloud of smoke moved towards Großzschachwitz and Heidenau.

The consequences of the fire

The prestigious building that 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 public participation in the further steps. It is planned to discuss proposals for possible future use of the building on June 26th on June 26th. In the past, various possible uses such as a high school or the integration into the cultural and creative industries were under discussion.

The city administration reacts quickly to ensure the security of the area. By the weekend, all entrances and windows of the building should be closed with panels. The first costs for the fuse have so far amounted to around 32,000 euros. In the course of the investigation, the police fire investigators become active to clarify the causes of the devastating fire. The cause of the fire is currently still unclear, so the investigation will continue to be focused.

The challenges for the fire brigade

according to Saxon The size of the fire is a challenge, also ensuring your own safety for the emergency services was a top priority. A fireman had to be treated on an outpatient basis due to circulatory problems, luckily there were no other injuries. The Pirnaer Landstrasse was completely closed during the mission, and traffic can now flow again, but the effort also had an impact on the tram traffic of the Dresden transport companies.

The current fire layer in urban centers, such as illuminated by the statistical magazine of the CTIF, shows the continued risks with which fire departments are confronted. As part of the “100 Cities - 100 Years” project, the development and endangerment by fires is analyzed, which is also relevant for Dresden and related urbanized areas. The CTIF and asks important questions about the development of fire risks and the trends of urban security.