Dresden burns! Former state operetta in flames - fire brigade in action!

Dresden burns! Former state operetta in flames - fire brigade in action!

In the night of June 7, 2025, there was a devastating fire in the former domicile of the state operetta in Dresden-Leuben. Over 100 firefighters were deployed to fight the fire that broke out in the attic of the historical building. Fire brigade spokesman Michael Klahre reported: "The building is fully on fire." The extinguishing work, which proved to be particularly challenging, were continued until the morning.

The visibility of the large clouds of smoke led to a warning to the residents. Within a radius of 1,000 meters, the citizens were asked to keep windows and doors closed and to switch off ventilation and air conditioning systems. In addition, the Pirnaer Landstrasse was completely closed, which also affected local public transport. Adjacent residential buildings were evacuated as a precaution because the fire was an acute danger.

challenges during use

The extinguishing work occurred in an incident in which a fireman needed treatment due to circulatory problems. The fire brigade had to change the strategy and briefly decided to go to the "water" command to let the fire break through. It turned out that the flames could only be fought from the outside, which is why the rescue structure was given up. Onlookers were urgently asked to leave the area so as not to hinder the emergency services.

An additional problem resulted from civil drones that disabled the use. The police were able to identify a drone pilot. Such incidents represent a significant risk to the emergency services and endanger the effectiveness of the deletion measures.

additional fires and historical backgrounds

This fire was not the only incident that day. A second fire in an unused building in the Dresden Neustadt could also only be fought from the outside, whereby support was provided by a drone relay. The Dresden State Operetta, which has a tradition of over 240 years in the city, has been in the center of the city since 2016 and now affected by this destruction.

Fire protection statistics in Germany shows that fires in historical buildings represent special challenges. Comprehensive and uniform fire statistics are missing, which makes analysis and prevention difficult. According to an overview of Feuertrutz , more precise data could contribute to improving fire protection in Germany. The forces used are therefore not only faced with the challenge of extinguishing the fire, but also to ensure the safety of the population and the emergency services.