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Night of Fires Across Germany Strains Brigades as Gyhum Barn Blaze Ends After 21 Hours

Investigators are examining possible criminal causes after several separate fires overnight.

Overview

  • In Gyhum, a straw-storage hall with roughly 500 to 600 bales burned, more than 100 firefighters from twelve brigades worked nearly 21 hours, the structure was demolished, and the cause remains under investigation.
  • In Schlitz-Ützhausen, two residents were hospitalized for smoke inhalation as crews chased concealed smouldering in wall and ceiling cladding, with four fire brigades and utility teams securing the site.
  • In Bergheim-Zieverich, smoke detectors woke occupants of a fourth-floor flat during a kitchen fire around 00:20, enabling an unharmed self-evacuation before firefighters quickly contained the blaze.
  • In Mülheim, a Dacia Duster burned near the Rhein-Ruhr-Zentrum, flames spread to nearby vegetation, a 10,000‑liter water tanker was deployed, and the criminal unit is investigating with arson not ruled out and witnesses sought.
  • In the Lauterecken area, the base fire brigade reported seven deployments in 24 hours, including a Grumbach barn blaze fought by 73 responders where police indicated a smouldering cigarette is the presumed ignition source.