Freiburg warehouse fire at CVUA site destroys building, leaves damage in the millions
A warehouse on the site of the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office in Freiburg was destroyed by fire early on Wednesday, with damage estimated in the millions of euros.
A large fire destroyed a warehouse on the grounds of the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA) in Freiburg on Wednesday, causing significant property damage but no injuries. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and stopped it from spreading to neighbouring structures.
The fire
A two-storey warehouse on the site of the old animal hygiene institute burned down completely. The building contained several garages, according to police. The fire brigade managed to prevent the flames from jumping to adjacent buildings on the CVUA grounds. By late morning, crews were still carrying out post-extinguishing work to douse remaining embers.
The cause of the fire will be investigated in the coming days.
Casualties and cost
Police confirmed that there were no injuries from the incident. The property damage is high, however, with initial estimates placing the loss in the millions of euros. A more precise figure has not yet been determined.
What is the CVUA
The Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA) in Freiburg is a state laboratory complex. The affected building sat on the part of the site formerly occupied by the animal hygiene institute, which had been used as a storage facility.
Next steps
With the fire contained, the priority shifts to the investigation. Police have stated that determining the cause will take several days. The full extent of the financial damage will also be assessed once investigators can safely access the site.
