Quickborn excavator fire threatens Himmelmoor nature reserve

A crawler excavator caught fire on Wednesday evening at a company yard on Himmelmoorstraße in Quickborn, Germany. When emergency responders arrived shortly after 7:30 PM, the construction vehicle was already fully engulfed in flames, producing dense clouds of smoke.

Firefighters, led by Steve Lorenz, conducted extinguishing efforts using heavy breathing apparatus. To reach hidden embers inside the machine, crews had to forcibly open parts of the excavator's casing. Approximately 40 firefighters and ten vehicles from the Quickborn Volunteer Fire Department were involved in the operation.

Due to the proximity of the Himmelmoor nature reserve, a major priority was preventing environmental damage. The fire caused the leakage of approximately 90 liters of diesel and 90 liters of hydraulic oil. To contain the spill, emergency crews constructed an earth dam and deployed oil-absorbent mats. The THW Pinneberg provided additional specialized absorbent material, and remaining fluids were pumped out of the damaged tanks. The environmental service of the Pinneberg district was called to coordinate necessary measures. The operation concluded around 11:30 PM.