Severe damage

Fire station destroyed due to missing fire alarm

In the German town of Stadtallendorf, a fire station was completely destroyed by a fire. The blaze spread unchecked because part of the station—only opened in January—had no sprinkler system or fire alarm. The damage is estimated at a minimum of 20 million euros.

The fire broke out shortly after 4:00 a.m. One of the vehicles may have caught fire, according to regional broadcaster Hessenschau. Local authorities confirmed that no fire detectors or sprinklers were present in the part of the station where the fire started.

Severe damage

At least twelve fire trucks were lost in the blaze. Although the fire brigade arrived quickly—as expected—the fire spread rapidly and caused extensive damage.

Lack of fire safety regulations

Stadtallendorf is located in the German state of Hesse, where fire alarms are only required in areas such as bedrooms, living rooms, and hallways of apartment buildings. Municipalities themselves decide whether fire stations and other public buildings are equipped with fire detection systems.

“This fire will likely make people think twice,” a local fire department investigator told Hessenschau. The damage to the building is estimated at 20 to 24 million euros. The mayor has announced that the new fire station will be equipped with fire alarms.

This incident once again highlights the importance of properly functioning fire safety systems—even in buildings where firefighting is the core mission.