Major fire in Villingen-Schwenningen: old town in flames!

Major fire in Villingen-Schwenningen: old town in flames!

In the early evening of June 14, 2025, the old town of Villingen-Schwenningen, a city with around 90,000 inhabitants in the Schwarzwald-Baar district, was hit by a devastating fire. The first emergency call reporting a fire on a balcony came in at 6:27 p.m. In the hours that followed, the fire spread quickly and engulfed several historic buildings in the city center.

The fire department faces enormous challenges as extinguishing work is made considerably more difficult by the narrow streets and the dense existing buildings. Two of the six affected houses are currently still on fire, while another has been extinguished. However, fires are still smoldering in several buildings and need to be brought under control. To prevent the fire from spreading further, the fire department cooled down adjacent buildings. Residents were asked to keep their windows and doors closed to protect themselves from fumes.

Injured and first measures

Unfortunately, there were also injuries in this incident. One firefighter suffered injuries while several other people suffered smoke inhalation. No information has yet been released about the exact cause of the fire, which is currently unclear. The major fire has already severely affected the old town, which is unique with its medieval character and historical buildings.

The old town of Villingen-Schwenningen, which once marked the state border between Baden and Württemberg, attracts many visitors and is an important cultural heritage of the region. The destruction caused by the fire could have far-reaching effects on the city and its residents.

The situation continues to evolve and firefighters are working tirelessly to tackle remaining hot spots and restore safety to the area. Estimates of the total damage are not yet available as the situation on site is still dynamic.