Burning electric cars in Forchheim: 400,000 euros in damage and investigations!

Burning electric cars in Forchheim: 400,000 euros in damage and investigations!

On a dramatic night, a devastating car fire occurred in the “Auf den Kellern” district of Forchheim on Monday, August 11, 2025, threatening several vehicles and the safety of residents. According to reports from nn.de The fire department was alerted around 4:30 a.m. when an electric vehicle in a carport burst into flames. When the emergency services arrived, the Renault, which had apparently caught fire during the charging process, was completely on fire.

The flames quickly spread to neighboring vehicles and the carport itself, resulting in extensive property damage of up to 400,000 euros. Five cars were significantly damaged or even burned out completely. Thanks to the fire brigade's quick action, the fire was prevented from spreading to the adjacent residential building and the residents were successfully brought to safety. Only one resident suffered minor respiratory problems.

Causes and risks of electric car fires

The exact cause of the fire remains unclear at this time and is being investigated by the Bamberg criminal police. However, it is suspected that a technical defect in the electric vehicle was the trigger. According to current statistics from GDV, around 14,200 cars with comprehensive insurance burn in Germany every year, with the causes of fire being found in both electric and combustion engines. Motor vehicle insurers pay over 100 million euros annually for this, with the average cost of a vehicle fire being around 7,100 euros. Statistics show that, statistically speaking, electric cars do not pose a higher risk of fire than their combustion engine counterparts you read here.

The causes of fires in electric cars are often complex. Common problems arise from mechanical damage to the battery or external causes of fire such as vandalism or accidents. Particular attention is paid to the phenomenon of “thermal runaway,” in which battery cells can overheat each other, causing fires that are extremely difficult to extinguish. Firefighters are prepared for these special challenges and use adapted extinguishing methods, which often require long-term cooling of the batteries more about this in this article.

Fire brigade operations and precautionary measures

Fighting fires in electric vehicles is becoming increasingly challenging for the fire department. Underground car parks, where many electric cars are parked, pose additional risks from smoke and high temperatures. However, the latest technologies and regulations are intended to help minimize fire risks and increase safety when using electric vehicles.

Although the Forchheim incident caused significant damage and raises many questions about the safety of electric cars, it shows that both modern safety standards and effective precautionary measures have a major impact on the risks. It remains to be hoped that the investigation will quickly provide clarity about the exact background to this dramatic incident.