Fire inferno in Rüthen: 200,000 eggs and pasta in flames!

Fire inferno in Rüthen: 200,000 eggs and pasta in flames!

On the night of June 16th to 17th, 2025, a devastating major fire occurred in the Hankerfeld industrial area in Rüthen. The fire brigade was alerted shortly after midnight when around 200,000 eggs, twelve pallets of pasta and numerous canned goods and boxes burst into flames in the warehouse of the family business “Meister Goldeinudel”. The dramatic events required the deployment of around 100 volunteer firefighters who tried hard to put out the fire. The German Red Cross, the rescue service, the police and the Soest district were also quickly on site to support the scenario and bring the situation under control, reports the Soester Anzeiger.

The situation suddenly escalated when the junior member of the family business discovered the fire and made his first attempts to put it out. Unfortunately, he suffered smoke inhalation and had to be taken to hospital in Lippstadt. He woke up attentive family members, including the junior's sister and her husband. Thanks to the quick reactions and the use of a fire protection wall, the fire was prevented from spreading to adjacent parts of the hall and residential buildings. In an adjacent hall, two vintage cars were also saved from the flames.

Efficient fire brigade and emergency services

A further dimension of the fire turned out to be a simultaneous fire incident in a sawmill on the B516. The first emergency services were alerted here at around 8 p.m. However, it was only after the fire department arrived that they discovered an ignition in a two-story production hall. A total of around 250 emergency services from various fire departments, including Rüthen, Warstein, Anröchte, Erwitte, Lippstadt and Soest, were deployed at the two fire locations. Firefighting water was taken, among other things, from the Möhne River, with four turntable ladders and several monitors being used to fight the flames. The DRK from Rüthen, Warstein and Werl as well as the DLRG Erwitte took over the medical protection of the emergency services, reports BR.

The situation became further critical shortly after midnight when the warning app Nina issued a warning about smoke gases to the population. The recommendation was to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off air conditioning and ventilation. Fortunately, the fire department, which carried out measurements in the area, was unable to determine any danger to the population and ultimately canceled the warning. Despite all these efforts, total damage to the sawmill hall could not be prevented.

The tragic incidents in Rüthen once again shed light on the importance of fire protection. Statistics from Germany show that fires often have different causes and can often only be avoided if the emergency services act quickly. Awareness of fire protection and the corresponding preparation are key topics that should be anchored in the population, according to the analysis by FeuerTrutz.

In view of the two serious fire incidents, the importance of a well-organized fire department and comprehensive assistance becomes clear. It is not for nothing that the Cologne helpers often say that “there is something going on” when quick reactions are required. With this in mind, we would like to thank everyone who was deployed for their courageous and determined work under demanding conditions.