A police helicopter is circling over the city, explosions can be heard: Two employees are injured and 20 buses are destroyed in a major fire on a Stuttgart tram plant.
A huge column of smoke rises in the Stuttgart night sky, a police helicopter is circling over the east of the city, explosions can be heard: In the major fire on a premises of the Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) at least 20 buses were completely destroyed on Thursday evening. A total of 210 firefighters were on duty to extinguish the flames, the fire brigade announced on Friday morning. According to the information, six SSB employees received medical attention. Two of them suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized with suspected smoke inhalation.
It still has to be determined whether a technical defect led to the outbreak of the fire or arson. According to the police, there were no indications of a deliberate act. The amount of the damage was also initially unclear. Eyewitnesses reported the fire around 8 p.m., according to a police spokeswoman. Officials then cordoned off the area extensively, and a police helicopter supported the operation from the air.
Residents of the industrial site in the Gaisburg district were called upon to keep windows and doors closed, switch off air conditioning and ventilation systems and avoid the affected area. The warning was lifted again early on Friday morning. An SSB spokesman said on Friday morning whether the fire will affect bus operations is still unclear. The Stuttgart Transport and Tariff Association had previously announced that SSB bus routes could be expected to be impaired at the start of operations.