Major fire shakes Swisttal: health warning for residents!

Major fire shakes Swisttal: health warning for residents!

In Swisttal-Ollheim there was a major fire on the premises of a waste disposal company on Sunday morning, July 6, 2025. The flames blazed high and a prominent column of smoke was visible as far as the district border. The development of smoke led to unpleasant odors in parts of Weilerswist. Residents were informed via the warning apps KATWARN and NINA. These provided specific warnings for Weilerswist-Metternich, Müggenhausen and Neukirchen: While no health risk from the fire smoke was identified, citizens were still asked to close doors and windows and turn off air conditioning.

The fire department was deployed immediately to bring the fire under control. According to information from WDR The fire broke out in a warehouse of a waste disposal company, which had recently been in the headlines due to a similar incident: at the beginning of May, a fire was caused by a damaged battery in a shredding device, which caused extensive damage amounting to at least two million euros. The extinguishing work took four days and required continuous fire watch, with a group of emergency services remaining on site in the following days.

A problem with batteries

NRW Environment Minister Oliver Krischer also visited the scene of the fire and confirmed that shredded lithium-ion batteries were the cause of the fire. This type of battery is installed in many everyday items such as cell phones, e-cigarettes and electric toothbrushes. In the past, there have been several dozen fires at garbage dumps in North Rhine-Westphalia that were caused by battery fires. Residents and emergency services are therefore particularly aware of the dangers posed by damaged batteries. Minister Krischer called for a deposit system for lithium-ion batteries and a ban on disposable cigarettes to minimize the risk of fire.

Statistics show that more than half of all fires in and around buildings are caused by electricity and human error. It is often carelessness and improper handling that lead to dangerous situations. Loud IFS Battery fires are a growing problem caused by the increasing use of lithium-ion batteries. Citizens are asked to follow manufacturer instructions and to stop using damaged batteries in order to minimize their own risks.

If you look at the current events in Swisttal, it becomes clear that the topic of fire protection and the safe handling of batteries should be on the agenda more than ever. The frightening incidents of the last few months show that there is a need for action and that both current fire protection measures and preventative initiatives, such as the planned deposit system, are urgently needed.