Major fire in Dresden's old state operetta: investigation into vandalism!

Major fire in Dresden's old state operetta: investigation into vandalism!

On Friday evening, June 7th, 2025, a devastating fire broke out in the old state operetta in Leuben. The fire alarm went off around 7:30 p.m. when the roof structure was already ablaze. A video from an eyewitness points to the front rows of seats as a possible cause of the fire. The building, which has been empty since 2016, had already been the target of vandalism on several occasions. Despite the intensive extinguishing work of around 150 firefighters, a total fire could not be prevented. The auditorium collapsed and the main building was largely burned out. The damage is estimated at a six to seven-figure amount, reports Saxon.

The extinguishing work continued until early Saturday morning when the fire department finally reported at 5 a.m. that the fire had been extinguished. Nevertheless, around 35 emergency services remained on site to combat any embers. “We had to let the roof structure burn down in a controlled manner in order to better reach the sources of the fire,” explained a fire department spokesman.

Accident or arson?

The police have started an investigation and are neither ruling out an accident nor deliberate arson. At least there is no evidence of a natural cause of the fire. A fire investigator is on site and will try to shed light on the matter. Incidentally, past studies by the Institute for Loss Prevention have shown that vandalism is a common cause of fires - and so similar incidents cannot be completely ruled out.

Increased need for security in the city

Security in the city is currently coming into focus again and again. Although security has improved in Dresden Neustadt, some crime hotspots remain. “We have to take further preventative measures,” said the city district office manager. Against this background, the currently planned new 30 km/h zones in Dresden seem particularly important, as 377 new jobs have been created in the last ten years, primarily to protect facilities at risk.

What is behind Sachsen-Energie's plans?

At the same time, Sachsen-Energie is causing discussions with its plans for an 80-meter-high heat storage facility at the Nossener Brücke power plant. Critics see the planned construction work as a possible obstruction to the view of the historic old town. So there are several construction sites for the residents, both literally and figuratively.

While the city takes a collective look at the tense situations and the necessary renovations, the memory of the traditional state operetta remains alive. With more than 240 years of history as a musical folk theater, it has conquered many Dresden hearts, and although the ensemble has been playing at a new location in the center of the city since December 2016, the sadness for the old building is palpable.

Difficult traffic situation and public safety

Due to the major fire, Pirnaer Landstrasse was closed until midday on Saturday and residents within a one-kilometer radius were asked to keep windows and doors closed. Two adjacent residential buildings also had to be evacuated as a precaution. The Dresden transport company reported cancellations and diversions on several lines, which further complicated the already tense traffic situation. There were also problems with drones that hindered the fire department's operations.

The events show that both security concerns and the city's heritage continue to come to the fore. While the investigation into the fire continues and the cause is still pending, it will be exciting to see how the city will deal with the challenges. Further information on the causes of fires in Germany can be found in detail Statista be read.