Large-scale operation in Aurich: Fire in the clinic – 30 patients evacuated!

Large-scale operation in Aurich: Fire in the clinic – 30 patients evacuated!

On Friday evening, July 5, 2025, there was a serious fire in the Ubbo Emmius Clinic in Aurich, which was reported at 10:15 p.m. The fire broke out in a storage room on Ward 3. Fortunately, the clinic's employees had acted with foresight: By the time the fire department arrived, the department had already been completely evacuated, which may have saved lives. Around 30 patients were transferred to other wards of the clinic while the fire department immediately began extinguishing the fire and was able to check all rooms. Thanks to a fire door, the fire was prevented from spreading. The fire was extinguished after about 25 minutes. A total of over 170 emergency services were on site, including seven fire departments as well as the German Red Cross and the Johanniter. There was no update on the cause of the fire on Saturday morning and police have seized the scene to investigate NWZonline reported.

Tragic incidents in hospitals are a subject of heightened sensitivity. The fire in the Marienklinik in Hamburg, which broke out on Sunday night, is particularly exemplary of the dangers in such facilities. Three men aged 84, 85 and 87 lost their lives here. More than 50 people suffered injuries, with police reducing the number to 34. The arrest of a 72-year-old patient on suspicion of arson is also alarming. He was taken to the hospital and will be brought before a judge on Monday. At least the fire brigade was on duty: over 220 helpers were ready to fight the fire that had spread to the ground floor. These incidents call on the German Patient Protection Foundation, which is calling for better fire protection measures in hospitals ZDF conveyed.

Statistical background on hospital fires

Unfortunately, fires in healthcare facilities are part of everyday life in Germany. The number of hospital fires remained stable at a high level in 2024. Data from the Federal Association of Technical Fire Protection shows that 114 fires were documented in hospitals this year, with 7 people dying and 148 injured. A look at the causes reveals that negligent or intentional arson was determined in around 43% of cases. Technical defects in electrical systems and smoking in hazardous conditions also contribute to these tragic incidents. What is particularly worrying is that sprinkler systems are rarely installed in German clinics and care facilities, even though they have been proven to significantly reduce the number of injuries and property damage. In the UK and the US, such systems are being used significantly more frequently, which has reduced deaths in retirement homes by up to 82%, according to the report TÜV Süd.

The recent incidents in Aurich and Hamburg show once again how important a robust fire protection concept is in hospitals. Sometimes a small moment of inattention is enough to trigger a catastrophe. Therefore, the need for preventive measures can no longer be ignored.