Major fire in castle: Owner resists evacuation and residents are worried!

Major fire in castle: Owner resists evacuation and residents are worried!

What's going on in the castle? The citizens of the Dithmarschen district have been worried since a major fire at a scrapyard in May. More than three months after the devastating fire, the site remains littered with remnants of scrap metal, vehicles and recycled materials. The residents are not only concerned about the unsightly remains, but above all about possible pollutants that could have remained in the ground. Because like that NDR reports, soil samples may only be taken once the waste has been removed.

The dispute recently escalated after the scrapyard's owner filed an emergency motion challenging the county's eviction order. Although the deadline for evacuation expired in mid-July, the space has remained unchanged to this day. The mayor has already made unsuccessful attempts to contact the owner to clarify the matter.

Unclear cause of fire

Another cause for concern: Itzehoe police have confirmed that the fire was not caused by arson, but the exact cause remains unclear. The Schleswig Administrative Court is now dealing with the case. The fact that the situation remains tense after the fire raises questions about the consequences of such incidents.

Parallel to this development, another major fire was reported in a scrapyard in Baden-Württemberg. In Mannheim, the fire brigade and emergency services had to contend with massive smoke development on August 8, 2025. Loud Mercury Piles of car parts and plastic up to ten meters high were in flames. The local fire department was immediately alerted and was able to bring the situation under control with several turntable ladders before the fire was handed over to the emergency services.

Warnings and actions

The police advised residents to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off ventilation systems. Odor nuisances were recorded up to 80 kilometers away. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries so far, and the fire brigade has secured fire-fighting water supplies from the adjacent harbor basin. According to initial air quality measurements, no dangerous pollutants have been detected so far, but the situation continues to be monitored closely.

In both cases it is clear that major fires and chemical accidents represent challenges for authorities and emergency services. Tools such as small-scale simulation models are used to better manage the effects of such events. These models support the authorities in planning evacuation measures and assessing the affected areas. This is particularly important as the Geosphere Austria emphasized because dealing with toxic substances in urban areas is complex.

The events in Burg and Mannheim clearly show that quick action and effective communication are of central importance to ensure the safety of local residents. So let us remain vigilant and hope that those responsible find quick solutions to eliminate the dangers and restore community trust.