Ettlingen industrial park fire forces evacuation over exploding gas cylinders

A fire broke out in an old factory building within the Albtal industrial park in Ettlingen, Germany, on the evening of 30 June 2026. The blaze quickly ignited four acetylene gas cylinders weighing about 50 kg each, creating a serious explosion risk. Authorities established a 200‑metre safety radius and evacuated residents and nearby workers, including a residential block.

Around 120 firefighters, 40 rescue personnel, technical‑relief units (THW) and police were deployed. The gas cylinders were cooled with water and later removed using a specialist excavator to eliminate the hazard. No injuries were reported. The Albtal railway line and adjacent roads were temporarily closed but were reopened after the situation was deemed safe later that night. Residents were warned via the NINA app and were offered temporary accommodation in a local hotel. By 22:30 h the temperature of the cylinders remained stable, allowing emergency services to scale back operations and lift the evacuation.

The incident underscores the challenges of handling hazardous materials during demolition work and the coordinated response of multiple emergency services.