Solingen firefighters respond to chemical plant fire

A fire broke out at a galvanization plant in Solingen, Germany, on Sunday morning, October 18. The incident triggered a major response from both the professional and volunteer fire departments due to the presence of various chemicals at the facility.

The alarm was raised after a passerby noticed the acoustic signals of a fire alarm system. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered heavy fogging throughout the production hall. Because of the chemical substances involved, the operation was upgraded to a hazardous materials response (GSG-2).

Firefighters identified the source of the fire as an incipient fire in a galvanization tank. The blaze was quickly and successfully extinguished using two foam extinguishers. Damage was reported to be limited to a small section of the tank, and high-pressure blowers were used to clear the fog from the hall.