Large smoldering fire in Rainau: Police investigated arson!

Large smoldering fire in Rainau: Police investigated arson!

The fire brigade in Rainau was called on Saturday evening after passers -by reported a strong smoke development from an empty factory building in the street "Im Forst". The emergency services arrived at 8 p.m., but no open flames were visible at this point. Instead, dense smoke from the building known as the "Lost Place", which is popular with photographers. Around 80 firefighters from the surrounding towns of Rainau, Hüttlingen, Westhausen and Wasseralfingen were deployed to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings and the forest.

The extinguishing work was challenging, since the smoke development was strongly pronounced and the foci remained unclear. During the inspection of the building, several fire spots were found, which made the extinguishing work further difficult. The fire brigade worked on the containment of the smoldering fire for several hours. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The police have already initiated an investigation into the cause of the fire and suspects arson because the discovery of several foci of fire indicates an intentional act. This is not the first time that arson is a topic in Germany.

arson in Germany

Between 2014 and 2024, the Federal Criminal Police Office documented the police recorded by arson. The persistent figures show that such criminal actions are a serious problem. Last statistics show a continuous increase in incidents during this period. Further information on the figures and trends is available on the Statista website, whereby the detailed statistics are based on subscriptions. Access to the necessary data, as well as information on crime statistics, has been available since April 2, 2025, and is still accessible via the platform.

cause statistics for fire damage

The causes of fire damage are diverse and are increasingly researched. According to an overview on the website of the Institute for Damage Control and Damage Research (IFS), there are regular analyzes that document different causes of fire. These statistics are essential to develop preventive measures and to inform society about the dangers of arson. For further details on the cause statistics, future-oriented information is also available on the IFS website.

The investigation into the smoldering fire in Rainau is on, while the fire brigade is still on standby to rule out any further dangers. The situation once again shows the importance of the courageous intervention of the fire brigades and the need for prevention measures against arson.