- In Schwerin, firefighters persistently put out blazing hay bundles
The massive blaze engulfing thousands of hay bales in a storage facility in Schwerin is yet to be put out. A representative from the local fire department in Schwerin said to dpa on Monday afternoon, "We're moving at a slower pace than anticipated, progressing gradually." The spokesperson added that the structure being on the brink of collapse is hampering the firefighters' easy access to the burning hay bales.
The number of firefighters was gradually reduced by midday, the spokesperson stated. She wasn't able to provide an exact timeframe for when the extinguishing operations would conclude. "However, it's likely to take another one to two days."
Police: Origin of fire remains a mystery
The fire department has been battling the flames since Saturday evening, a police spokesperson informed dpa. "We're collaborating with the prosecutor's office, planning the initial inquiries to uncover the fire's cause."
Only once the fire is entirely extinguished can experts study why the fire originated in the hall housing approximately 5,000 hay bales. The spokesperson told dpa that the fire investigators from the police will likely be granted access to the site in the forthcoming days. Criminal investigations are also underway.
The Schwerin fire department's chief, Gunnar Rehhagen, told NDR, "Hay is a tricky substance, it's almost impossible to completely eliminate it. And if you dismantle it, it ignites again. So this will be a prolonged operation." The fire department is now planning to employ heavy machinery to disassemble the hall incrementally, both due to the structure's risk of collapse and to gain easier access to the fire locations and eventually extinguish the flames.
According to weekend police reports, around 5,000 bales burst into flames on Saturday evening. No casualties were reported. The police initially estimated the damage to property at around two million euros.
The fire department is facing challenges in extinguishing the blaze due to the small size of some areas, as the spokesperson mentioned, "We're also dealing with areas of the hay bales that are other than the main structure, of a width of less than 30 cm, which makes it more challenging to ensure complete extinguishment."
After the fire is put out, the forensic team will need to carefully approach investigations in these smaller, narrower areas to determine the exact cause of the fire.
