Violent warehouse fire in Bucharest Sector 1 triggers RO-Alert, 20 fire trucks deployed

Outbreak and location

A violent fire broke out in the night of Thursday 13 August to Friday 14 August at a warehouse on Strada Marginei in Sector 1 of Bucharest, in the Chitila area. The building was a compartmentalised hall used for both storage and repairs, with multiple purposes. Residents on social media said the site housed a car and boat service, while one resident cited information that a rubber tyre depot had burned. The fire produced open flames and very large smoke emissions, with flames and thick smoke visible from kilometres away.

Emergency response

ISU Bucuresti-Ilfov (ISUBIF) mobilised 20 fire trucks equipped with water and foam, one height intervention and rescue vehicle, one extrication vehicle, and two SMURD teams prepared to provide first aid. Police forces and other intervention crews were also dispatched to the area. Firefighters worked for over an hour and a half to extinguish the blaze. The fire was localised around 3:00 AM on approximately 500 square meters. By the time of the first official information, ISUBIF stated there were no data regarding possible victims, and subsequent reports confirmed no persons were injured and no one needed medical care or hospital transport.

RO-Alert and resident accounts

Due to the very large smoke emissions, authorities sent an RO-Alert message at 2:12 AM to inform and warn the nearby population. Residents reported being woken after midnight near Soseaua Chitilei by the sound of powerful explosions. One resident described hearing rumbling noises and continuous cracking of tyres, while another reported a very powerful explosion followed by heavy smoke.

“Avand in vedere degajarile foarte mari de fum, pentru informarea si avertizarea populatiei a fost trimis un mesaj RO-Alert pentru zona din proximitate.”

Operational challenges

Lieutenant Eduard Stefan of ISU Bucuresti-Ilfov outlined the difficulties faced by responders. The hall had a dual use, and access was impeded by narrow streets with parked cars. The building was V-shaped, with a railway line on two sides, further complicating the intervention. Inside, rubber and plastic materials burned, contributing to the dense smoke. Firefighters continued working to extinguish the remaining hotspots after localising the fire. The exact cause of the blaze is to be determined after the complete conclusion of extinguishing operations.

“Dubla intrebuintare. Un aspect ce a impus dificultate in gestionarea interventiei a fost atat accesul catre hala, ce s-a realizat pe strazi inguste cu masini parcate dar si hala in V, avand pe 2 laturi cale ferata. In interior au ars materiale de cauciuc, materiale de plastic.”