Linkenheim-Hochstetten field fire triggers large firefighting effort, briefly shuts B36

A field fire broke out on a harvested grain field adjacent to the B36 highway near Linkenheim-Hochstetten, Germany. The blaze quickly spread to about ten hectares, prompting a coordinated response from more than 100 firefighters from several local brigades, the Karlsruhe fire department, and the KIT institute’s workshop fire unit. No injuries were reported. Assistance included water tanks from farmers, a tractor, and a drone equipped with a thermal‑imaging camera that helped direct the crews to the hottest spots.

Police deployed ten vehicles and about 30 officers to secure the area and close the highway while the fire was being tackled. The full closure of both lanes of the B36 was lifted in the afternoon after the fire was extinguished, restoring traffic flow.