Major fire in Villingen-Schwenningen causes millions in damage

Several buildings in the picturesque old town of Villingen-Schwenningen go up in flames. Firefighters are also injured. Several people lose their homes.

Following the major fire in the old town of Villingen-Schwenningen, emergency services are busy with final firefighting operations. Two of the six affected buildings partially collapsed during the night, said fire department operations chief Robert Friedrich. However, further collapses are not expected.

According to police, four residents suffered minor injuries. Two firefighters were treated in the hospital, and another was treated as an outpatient. A total of approximately 100 firefighters were deployed.

According to initial estimates by the fire department and police, the damage is likely to run into the millions. The picturesque old town of Villingen-Schwenningen, on the edge of the Black Forest, is a popular tourist destination due to its historic buildings and medieval character.

The first emergency call came in on Saturday evening at 6:27 p.m. Initially, there was talk of a balcony fire, but then the fire spread through the densely built-up old town, sending a large column of smoke rising over the city.

Extinguishing efforts were challenging due to the narrow streets and densely populated old buildings. Firefighters cooled neighboring buildings with water jets to prevent the flames from spreading further. At the beginning of the operation, rescue workers also had to direct onlookers away from the danger zone.

Police and fire departments were still unable to provide any information on the cause of the fire as of Sunday morning. The criminal investigation department is investigating. According to the city's press officer, the residents affected by the blaze were accommodated with family and friends.

The present-day twin town of Villingen-Schwenningen, with a current population of approximately 90,000, once straddled the state border between Baden and Württemberg. The town is located about an hour's drive east of Freiburg.