emergencies
Clean-up work after a major fire in a recycling company
The emergency services are on site with a large contingent. photo
© Boris Roessler/dpa
After the major fire in an Offenbach recycling company for batteries and accumulators, the clean-up work is underway – and the refurbishment. The company had already caught on fire in 2019. The operator now wants to increase safety standards.
The fire broke out on the company’s premises on Sunday evening and then spread to a warehouse. “It was a very intensive operation,” said Manuel Hoppert, deputy chief of the Offenbach fire department on Monday. Extinguishing the fire in extreme heat was particularly challenging. When the wind suddenly changed, around 30 firefighters inhaled smoke gas. However, medical attention revealed that no one was injured.
The cause of the fire was initially unclear, according to the police. There had already been a major fire on the company premises in 2019. At that time, self-ignition of batteries was the cause of the fire, said a spokeswoman for the operating company on Monday. Old, damaged batteries tended to self-ignite – a challenge for disposal companies.
The company wants to increase safety standards in the future, for example with battery boxes with aerosol extinguishing devices. Safety regulations were always observed, it said in a statement.
The sorting of old batteries has a residual risk due to the remaining voltage, said Deputy Head of Office Hoppert from the Offenbach fire brigade. “Due to the frequency of these fires, you might have to think about doing it differently,” he said.
The city of Offenbach announced on Monday that pollutant measurements remained negative throughout the city until late at night. Due to the smoke gases, however, irritation of the mucous membranes is possible. According to the information, light metals from rechargeable batteries and batteries quickly evaporate in the air. However, soot deposits are occasionally possible in front gardens or on balconies. Residents who find battery parts on their property have been asked to contact police.