Overview
- The fire began under the Boxberger Straße cable bridge at about 4:00 a.m. on Monday when tires and debris were set alight beneath the lines.
- Stromnetz Berlin says two 110,000-volt high‑voltage cables and several 10,000‑volt medium‑voltage lines were damaged by the blaze.
- Nineteen businesses were temporarily cut from the grid and have been supplied by a backup generator since about 9:00 a.m., and there was no large-scale blackout.
- Police opened an investigation for suspected arson and are securing traces at the scene while repair crews work to restore the damaged lines.
- The case has raised concern about the security of Berlin’s power network given past professional attacks on transmission lines and differing views from unions and police about motive.