On the night of March 11-12, 2026, a traditional residential building of the Stöckli type was completely destroyed by fire in the town of Zuchwil. The Solothurn cantonal police suspect arson and are investigating possible links to a series of fires in the region.

Suspected arson

The Solothurn cantonal police officially announced that the cause of the fire was likely intentional arson.

Total destruction of the building

The traditional Swiss Stöckli house burned down completely despite the rapid intervention of the fire brigade.

Series of fires in the region

Investigators are checking whether the incident is part of a larger series of arson attacks that have occurred in recent months.

On the night of March 11-12, 2026, a traditional Swiss residential building of the Stöckli type was completely destroyed by fire in the town of Zuchwil in the canton of Solothurn. The fire, which broke out on Emmenholzweg on the grounds of one of the local farms, completely engulfed the structure, leading to its total destruction. Officers from the Solothurn cantonal police who arrived at the scene found the building ablaze with bright flames. Emergency services have not yet provided information about any persons injured as a result of the incident, but the material damage is described as total.

The investigators from Kantonspolizei Solothurn officially suspect that the cause of the fire was intentional arson. In light of these findings, the police issued an urgent appeal to the public for help in identifying the perpetrators or persons possibly connected to the incident. Officers are seeking witnesses who may have noticed suspicious persons or vehicles in the vicinity of the farm immediately before the fire broke out, during it, or shortly after the flames were noticed. Any information about unusual activity in the Emmenholzweg area could prove crucial to the progress of the investigation being conducted by the cantonal authorities.

„Wer vor, während oder nach dem Brand verdächtige Personen oder Fahrzeuge beobachtet hat, soll sich bei der Kantonspolizei Solothurn melden” (Anyone who observed suspicious persons or vehicles before, during, or after the fire should contact the Solothurn Cantonal Police) — Kantonspolizei Solothurn via 20 Minuten

The incident in Zuchwil is being linked by local authorities to an ongoing series of fires in the region, referred to by Swiss media as a 'Brandserie' (arson series). This situation is causing growing concern among residents of the canton of Solothurn, as further farm and residential buildings are falling victim to unexplained fires in short succession. Fire experts are currently analyzing secured visual materials and traces left at the scene to establish common features linking this incident to previous fires in the area.

Zuchwil is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Solothurn, located in the Wasseramt district on the Aare river. This town holds particular historical significance for Poles, as it was here in 1817 that Tadeusz Kościuszko was originally buried before his remains were transferred to Wawel Castle. Today, the region is grappling with the problem of serial arson attacks, which have for some time engaged significant forces of the Solothurn cantonal police to ensure the safety of local farmers.

Sequence of events in Zuchwil: March 11, night — Fire breaks out; March 12, 02:15 — Media reports; March 12, morning — Scene inspection; March 12, 12:08 — Police appeal

Mentioned People

  • Tadeusz Kościuszko — Polish and American general, military engineer, Supreme Commander of the National Armed Forces during the Kościuszko Uprising; originally buried in Zuchwil.