Former state operetta in Dresden: major fire causes chaos!

Former state operetta in Dresden: major fire causes chaos!

A major fire of a special kind kept residents in Dresden-Leuben in suspense today. In the former state operetta, which has been empty for several years, the flames have been raging since the early hours of the morning and caused massive smoke. The fire department is on site with over 60 firefighters and is fighting tirelessly against the fire, while two neighboring homes have also been evacuated to ensure the safety of residents. “We have issued warnings about the cloud of smoke that is moving towards Großzschachwitz and Heidenau,” reports a fire department spokesman, as Stern.de notes.

The situation is tense: “The flames in the rear part of the building are under control, but the rest is still burning,” is the assessment of the emergency services, as t-online.de reports. Despite the massive smoke development, no people have been found in the building so far; The theater has been empty since December 2016, after the ensemble moved to its new home in Kraftwerk Mitte.

Evacuations and impacts on traffic

The fire brigade not only has to fight the flames, but also has the safety of the residents in mind. The population was urged to close windows and doors and turn off ventilation and air conditioning systems. These measures are intended to prevent smoke from entering homes. The operation also has an impact on the traffic situation in the area: Pirnaer Landstrasse is completely closed and local public transport lines 2, 46 and 65 have been rerouted.

One firefighter had to be treated on an outpatient basis due to circulatory problems, which underlines the challenges during the firefighting work. The fire brigade also carried out an operation on another fire at the Old Leipzig train station on Friday morning, which placed additional strain on the emergency services.

History and status of the state operetta

The State Operetta in Dresden has an eventful history: it has been based in this building since its founding in 1947 and is considered Germany's only independent, city-owned operetta theater. However, over the years the building became increasingly dilapidated and flooding in 2003 ultimately led to its closure. Given this history, the fire is particularly tragic, especially since the cause of the fire is currently unclear.

Statistics show that fires, particularly in vacant buildings, are not uncommon and can often cause significant damage. As FeuerTrutz reports, there are no comprehensive and uniform fire statistics in Germany that could contribute to improving fire protection. This highlights the need for constant vigilance and rapid response when fighting fires.

Although the situation is currently still critical, the fire department is working hard to control the flames and ensure the safety of residents. The people of Dresden can only hope that the major fire will be contained quickly and that there will be no further injuries. Our condolences go out to the emergency services who are working tirelessly and to all the residents affected by this incident.