Blazing flames, thick black smoke: after a major fire in a warehouse with plastic barrels, people in Hagen are supposed to keep doors and windows closed.
The cloud of smoke could be seen for miles.
Hagen - A major fire in a warehouse with plastic containers in Hagen caused a dark cloud of smoke that could be seen from afar on Wednesday. A police spokesman said she could be seen as far as Lüdenscheid, which is around 20 kilometers away. The fire brigade warned of odor nuisance and asked people not to be outdoors and to close doors and windows. Health hazards could not be ruled out, also because solvents and cleaning agents were burned in the hall. There were soot particles in the cloud of smoke that could spread in the city, it said in the morning.
According to the police spokesman, the fire was reported at 7.45 a.m.
The fire brigade moved out with a large contingent to put out the flames.
Small explosions could also be heard over and over again.
250 people were brought to safety from surrounding buildings.
There were no major injuries from the fire, said a fire department spokesman.
An employee was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure after his unsuccessful attempt to extinguish the flames.
At most, he was slightly injured.
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According to the fire department spokesman, the warehouse had burned completely.
Plastic containers stored in the courtyard also went up in flames.
In addition, the fire also damaged the company's office building.
Later in the morning, the flames were increasingly under control, the spokesman continued.
Instead of black smoke, only water vapor is rising up now.
It will take until the afternoon until all embers have been extinguished.
The cause of the fire was initially just as unclear as the amount of damage.
According to the police, barrels and plastic containers, among other things, are manufactured on the company's premises.
Solvents and cleaning agents are also stored there.
Air measurements by the fire brigade on possible hazardous substances were initially not completed.
dpa