Overview

• A 10,000 m², 15-meter-high scrap heap in Essen's Altenessen district caught fire, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
• The Essen Fire Department, supported by the scrapyard operator, is using excavators, wheel loaders, and a fireboat pumping water from the Rhein-Herne Canal to combat the flames.
• Residents in the area were warned via the NINA app to keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke and potential pollutants.
• The Landesumweltamt is conducting on-site pollutant measurements, though no results have been reported yet.
• Police have sealed off surrounding streets to ensure safety and facilitate the ongoing firefighting operations.