A dangerous fire broke out at a scrapyard in Essen-Katernberg, Germany, early Monday morning. The fire engulfed large quantities of flammable materials. Due to wind direction, thick smoke was clearly visible across a large part of the region, and the cloud even shrouded Dortmund, located 30 km away. Firefighters launched a large-scale firefighting operation.
Fire in an Industrial District
The fire broke out at a scrap metal storage facility in Essen-Katernberg, located in an industrial area. Materials intended for recycling were burning.
Visible Smoke Cloud
The north-easterly wind spread dense, dark smoke across the area, which was noticeable throughout the Ruhr region, including in Dortmund, 30 kilometers away.
Large-Scale Rescue Operation
Many fire department units from Essen and the surrounding area arrived at the scene and are conducting a complex firefighting operation using specialized equipment.
No Information on Casualties
According to initial media reports, there is currently no information about casualties from the fire or the need to evacuate residents.
A dangerous fire broke out on Monday morning at an extensive scrapyard in Essen-Katernberg. The fire engulfed large quantities of flammable materials, likely including plastics and oils, causing intense, black smoke. The fire department was alerted in the early morning hours and dispatched numerous units from Essen and surrounding towns.
Essen, with over half a million inhabitants, is one of the key industrial cities of the Ruhr region. For decades, this area was the heart of German coal mining and steel production, and after its restructuring in the second half of the 20th century, the service and recycling sectors developed there. Katernberg is a district located in the northern part of the city. Due to the prevailing north-easterly wind in the region, a dense, dark smoke cloud traveled a long distance. According to reports, it was clearly visible in many parts of the Ruhr metropolitan area. Notably, the smoke reached as far as Dortmund, a city located about 30 kilometers east of Essen. Authorities have not yet issued official statements regarding the composition of the smoke and its potential health hazards, although in such cases, it is standard to advise avoiding the open air in the immediate vicinity of the fire. The firefighting operation is complex due to the nature of the burning material. Extinguishing fires at scrapyards often requires specialized firefighting agents, such as foam, to minimize the risk of fire spread and the emission of toxic substances. Scrapyards can harbor dangerous materials, including fuel residues, chemicals, or batteries, which complicates firefighters' work.
There is currently no information on the cause of the incident. Possible causes of fires at such facilities include electrical short circuits, welding work, spontaneous combustion of accumulated materials, or arson. The public prosecutor's office will likely launch an investigation into the matter once the blaze is under control. There are also no reports of casualties or the need to evacuate residents of nearby houses, indicating that the fire was quickly located and contained to the facility's premises. Services are checking whether there is a threat to infrastructure, such as power lines or roads. Local authorities are monitoring the situation, and travelers through the region are advised to exercise caution due to possible traffic disruptions around the incident site.