Fire devastates historic Bata factory in Zlín, Czech Republic

A fire erupted on Thursday morning at the former Bata factory complex in Zlín, igniting the Vasky shoe warehouse on the ninth floor of the historic 11‑storey building.

The blaze spread rapidly, causing parts of the structure to collapse and prompting the use of a helicopter for aerial firefighting. The building’s static stability was compromised, and smoke continued to billow from the ruins.

Approximately 70‑75 thousand pairs of shoes were destroyed, with initial loss estimates exceeding €150 million; some reports suggest total damage could approach €500 million. The fire also caused extensive material burning, as regional fire spokesman Pavel Řezníček noted: "V nich stále dochází k hoření zasaženého materiálu."

Police have opened an investigation for "general danger" due to alleged negligence, and the fire chief indicated the site may be handed back to the owners on Monday.