Roof fire in Schalkau: Grill sparks raise the alarm for 70 firefighters!

Roof fire in Schalkau: Grill sparks raise the alarm for 70 firefighters!

On February 9, 2018, there was a fire in an apartment building in Schalkau, so badly that the fire department had to respond with a massive response. Around 80 emergency services took care of the extinguishing efforts, while the Rödental fire department and Eisfeld fire department were also called in to provide support. The column of smoke was visible from afar and alerted the emergency services, who were quickly on site. Six residents had to be evacuated and a seventh person could not be found because he was not at home.

The situation was serious. A massive external attack with two turntable ladders was launched, supplemented by an internal attack by respiratory protection teams. But the operation had to be stopped - the false ceilings of the house were in danger of collapsing. During the night the fire brigade was alerted again because embers were flaring up. The situation was so threatening that the building was ultimately classified as at risk of collapse. The resulting material damage amounted to around 400,000 euros. The investigation led to a 39-year-old man who is urgently suspected of serious arson and is now in a prison.

Current fire in Schalkau

Now, a few years later, Schalkau experienced another fire on Friday evening, August 13, 2025, which fortunately was quickly brought under control. This time it was sparks from a grill that set the roof structure on fire. Around 70 firefighters who were nearby because they had taken part in the bird shooting had a good hand and were able to intervene quickly. The quick response prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings.

The Schalkau fire department was on duty with several local fire departments and support from Rödental and Hüttengrund. Thanks to the coordinated firefighting attack, a major accident was averted. The incident shows once again how important a well-organized fire department and quick help can be in emergency situations.

Cause statistics for fire damage

As the IFS website shows, fires caused by barbecues are not uncommon. Flying sparks are a common cause of such fires. It is important to make sure to work safely when grilling to avoid such incidents. For everyone who likes to grill in nature, there are some safety precautions that you should take into account in order to enjoy safely.

The fire department's operations in Schalkau underline the importance of prevention and quick response. In this sense, we can only hope that such incidents can be avoided more frequently in the future. Let's gather our knowledge about fire safety and make sure we grill safely!

History shows that in Schalkau there is strong cooperation between the fire department and the village community, both in emergencies and during celebrations. In southern Thuringia reports that the quick response to the last fire service event once again made it clear how important solidarity is. This is also reflected in the statistics for fire damage that can be found IFS can be viewed and which illustrate the risks in the event of barbecue accidents.