Fire department in Netphen-Eschenbach: Fire completely destroys the equipment building!

Fire department in Netphen-Eschenbach: Fire completely destroys the equipment building!

On the night of September 30, 2025, there was a devastating fire in the fire station in Netphen-Eschenbach, which became completely unusable. The roof structure burned down completely, as WDR reports. At a crisis meeting on the following Monday, the fire department and the departments of the city of Netphen decided that the Eschenbach fire department would be temporarily housed in Netphen. This is particularly important as the Eschenbach unit must remain responsible for the districts of Eschenbach, Affolderbach and Solbach in the event of an emergency.

The fire not only resulted in the total loss of the equipment shed, but also damaged an equipment trolley that is now no longer usable. City fire inspector Sebastian Reh described the devastating damage: burn holes in the ceiling, rubble and ash everywhere. Fortunately, the Eschenbach fire department's fire engine was rescued before the fire was completely extinguished. This vehicle is now temporarily in the fire station in Netphen.

Cause of fire and technical defects

The police suspect a technical defect as the cause of the fire, which is not the first time that fire has broken out in fire brigade locations. An analysis from the Fire Protection Information Portal shows that such incidents have occurred again and again in various places in Germany in recent years. In October 2024, for example, a vehicle and equipment hall for the fire department in Stadtallendorf burned down, just months after the building was opened. There was damage worth over 20 million euros and eleven vehicles were destroyed.

Technical defects in vehicle electrical systems are often the cause of these fires, especially when lithium-ion batteries are stored nearby or when firewalls are missing, as was the case in Stadtallendorf. Another aspect is that many fire brigade buildings are not legally required to be equipped with fire alarm systems, which potentially increases the risk. The discussion about safety standards in fire brigade buildings is becoming increasingly urgent.

Need for action and future security measures

The incidents now raise questions about the current security situation in most fire brigade locations. Many facilities are skeptical about installing fire alarm systems because, although they can trigger an alarm, they are unable to prevent fires. While the fire department in Bad Karlshafen has already installed radio smoke detectors that are connected to an alarm center, there are many fire departments that shy away from the financial outlay that installation according to DIN standards would cause.

The city of Netphen now has the task of immediately looking for temporary new accommodation for the Eschenbach fire department. This is not only crucial for the operational readiness of the fire brigade, but also for the safety of the local population. The incident in Netphen-Eschenbach is another wake-up call to sustainably improve safety standards in fire protection.