Two dead, three injured in Gdańsk allotment fire; gas cylinder explosion suspected

What happened

Around 11 PM on Saturday, 1 August 2026, a fire broke out in a brick-built summer house (altana) on the family allotment gardens at ul. Meteorytowa in Gdańsk. According to Radio Gdańsk, a gas cylinder exploded inside the structure, causing the building to collapse and catch fire. Four units of the State Fire Service (PSP) were dispatched to the scene. The blaze completely destroyed the masonry structure, leaving only rubble.

Casualties and rescue

Before firefighters arrived, two women aged 18 and 56 managed to escape the burning building. Both suffered burns and smoke inhalation and were handed over to paramedics. Neighbors and bystanders administered first aid until emergency services reached them. An 86-year-old woman was also taken to hospital with pre-heart attack symptoms, which may have been triggered by the fire.

After extinguishing the blaze, firefighters searched the debris and found two charred bodies in the basement.

“During the firefighting operations, firefighters discovered two fatalities of this fire in the basement: a man and a woman. After extinguishing, the area was handed over to the police, who are conducting an investigation.”

The identity of the victims has not yet been confirmed, according to st. kpt. Andrzej Piechowski of the provincial fire service. A second firefighter, mł. asp. Dawid Westrych, said that after checking the debris, crews found the charred body of a man and then a second charred body, probably a woman.

Investigation

Police and the prosecutor's office are investigating the cause and circumstances of the fire. No official cause had been determined as of Sunday morning, 2 August. The site has been secured for further forensic examination. The fire was reported by local residents, and footage of the blaze was sent to the news outlet trojmiasto.pl before midnight.

Allotment regulations

Polish allotment garden regulations (ROD) prohibit permanent residence but allow occasional overnight stays. It is not yet known whether the victims were staying overnight at the time of the fire. The regulations state that a plot cannot be used as a dwelling, but incidental overnight stays are not forbidden.