Major operation in Zwickau: Former homeless shelter is on fire!

Major operation in Zwickau: Former homeless shelter is on fire!

A huge operation by the fire brigade caused a stir in Zwickau on Sunday evening. A fire broke out in the former homeless shelter “Zum Regenbogen” on Büttenstrasse, which quickly alerted the emergency services. Around 63 firefighters from the Zwickau professional fire department as well as volunteer fire departments from surrounding towns such as Auerbach and Schneppendorf moved out to control the flames. Operations manager Kai Götze reported that when the fire department arrived, flames were coming from the building, but there was no full fire, which made the situation much easier. Fortunately, there was no one inside at the time, so an intensive search of the premises was carried out without anyone being found. Fortunately, the operation went without any injuries and the fire was quickly brought under control.

Observations from residents reported thick, dark smoke drifting over the city. The extinguishing work took several hours and while the fire brigade did their best, Büttenstrasse was completely closed. The cause of the fire is currently unclear and the police have already started an investigation. However, the damage to the building is significant; The interior was completely charred and many windows were broken, indicating extensive property damage.

The story of the “Rainbow House”

The former homeless shelter has an eventful history behind it. Built in the 1970s, it initially served as workers' accommodation and continued as accommodation for construction workers after reunification. The Rainbow House opened as a social facility in 2008, but its conditions led to the city's lease being terminated in 2013 due to concerns about the building's dilapidated condition. After a lengthy legal dispute that went all the way to the Saxon Higher Administrative Court, a ban on use was finally imposed. The last residents left the facility at the end of 2023 and have since been housed in the city's newer housing project on Erlmühlenstrasse.

The homelessness situation in Germany is known to be tense. At the beginning of 2024, it was estimated that around 532,000 people were living without a permanent residence, including around 47,300 who were considered homeless. The issue is becoming increasingly pressing, particularly in large cities where rents are continually rising. In society, reactions to homeless people are diverse: while some provide help, there are also calls for a ban on begging in inner cities. These societal tensions highlight the importance of an informed discussion about homelessness.

The fire protection problem of the “Rainbow House” was already a big topic years ago. If the fire had occurred at a later date, when the building was still occupied, the consequences could have been dramatic. This raises the question of how we can deal with such social hotspots and ensure that such incidents do not happen again.

The incident in Zwickau not only has an immediate impact on the affected buildings, but also long-term consequences for the city, which must address housing solutions to prevent such tragedies. Given the immense pressure on the housing market, it remains to be seen how the city of Zwickau will deal with the situation and what will ultimately become of the run-down building.