Overview

• On July 6 in Bamberg three paper recycling bins ignited in a refuse room, producing dense smoke that blocked stairwells and the elevator and prompted 60 emergency personnel and ten vehicles to respond
• No injuries were reported in Bamberg and residents remain in their smoke-free apartments, but the refuse room is unusable and damage assessments are under way
• On July 7 in Aachen a fire likely began in a ground-floor restaurant waste room, trapping 21 people in heavy smoke and leading to five light inhalation injuries
• The Aachen residential building is uninhabitable and all 21 rescued occupants have been relocated to friends, family or hotels
• Police and fire authorities are investigating both blazes to determine precise ignition points and how smoke migrated through shafts to inform future fire safety measures