On October 3, 2026, a fire severely damaged a combined heat and power plant in Straßlach-Dingharting, near Munich—a facility that had been in operation for only one year. A technical incident within the exhaust gas purification system triggered a smoldering fire, the precise cause of which remains under investigation. According to Mayor Hans Sienerth, repairs could cost between 300,000 and 400,000 euros. Until the incident, the plant had supplied electricity and heat to approximately 200 households. With the wood-chip-fueled heating system out of commission, an oil-based backup system had to be deployed to maintain the heat supply. Around 100 firefighters battled the blaze for several hours. No one was injured, though one firefighter required brief medical attention.
Image: © Freiwillige Feuerwehr Straßlach
New Combined Heat and Power Plant Severely Damaged Despite Recent Maintenance
The timing of the fire is particularly notable. The combined heat and power plant on Mitterstraßweg only began operations in October 2025. Furthermore, the manufacturer had carried out comprehensive maintenance on the facility just two weeks before the incident. Up until that point, the local authority had considered the energy supply to be reliable. A specific technical cause for the fire has not yet been identified.
Immediately before the fire was discovered, there had been a power outage in the municipality. As a result, technical manager Manuel Kluge checked the facility and noticed sparks in the filter system. He alerted the fire department at approximately 11:00 a.m. Emergency responders had to enter the facility wearing heavy-duty breathing apparatus. Additionally, the firefighting water became contaminated with oil, necessitating the use of special containment vessels. A link between the power outage and the fire has not yet been established.
Combined heat and power plant goes offline – fossil-fuel backup prevents heating disruption
The fire struck a municipal energy facility—ironically, one intended to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Following the outage, an oil-based backup system took over the heat supply, ensuring that connected households continued to receive hot water and heating. This technical safeguard prevented any immediate disruption for the residents.
However, such backup operations create a renewed reliance on heating oil and fossil fuels. Whether this resulted in additional costs compared to the standard operation using wood chips depends on consumption levels, oil prices, and the duration of the outage. No specific figures are currently available. Furthermore, as of October 26, there has been no public announcement regarding a confirmed date for the recommissioning of the damaged biomass facility.
Multi-million-euro municipal project requires significantly more connections
The financial impact could extend well beyond the cost of repairs. The project is operated by the municipal infrastructure company of Straßlach-Dingharting. The heating network is still under development, with the municipality aiming to connect additional buildings. Original plans identified a minimum of 450 connected homes as the target for economic viability; prior to the fire, the facility was supplying approximately 200 households.
Current expansion plans include the addition of roughly two to three kilometers of district heating pipes annually, as the investment is predicated on a long-term increase in heat demand. Major repairs and extended operational downtime, however, could negatively affect the project’s economic projections. A key factor will be whether insurance providers or the manufacturer cover the damages. To date, neither a final total for the damages nor a binding agreement on who will bear the costs has been publicly disclosed. Second Fire at a Bavarian Biomass Heating Plant Within Three Days
Just two days after a fire in Straßlach, another blaze occurred at a municipal biomass heating plant. On October 5, a wood-chip storage bunker caught fire in the Külsheim district of Bad Windsheim. Firefighters discovered smoldering hotspots near a screw conveyor, necessitating the partial clearing of the fuel bunker using heavy machinery. Significant smoke generation prompted a large-scale emergency response.
The two incidents involved different technical components of the facilities. While the exhaust gas cleaning system was damaged in Straßlach, the fire in Külsheim originated in the fuel-handling section. No common technical cause has been identified. Nevertheless, both cases demonstrate that municipal heating projects require robust fire protection strategies and adequately sized backup systems. Otherwise, localized technical failures can compromise major portions of a local heat supply.
Three weeks after the fire, key details remain undisclosed
For the Straßlach heating plant, there is still no publicly confirmed information regarding the full scope of necessary repairs. It also remains unclear when regular heat production could—or will—resume. Consequently, the initial estimate of up to 400,000 euros remains provisional. Furthermore, no figures have been released concerning potential additional operating costs incurred due to the need for alternative supply arrangements.
The next municipal council meeting for Straßlach-Dingharting is scheduled for October 28. However, the published agenda does not explicitly include an item concerning the heating plant. It remains to be seen whether any new information regarding the handling of the damage will emerge during the meeting. For the municipality, the most critical question is how the fire will affect long-term costs and the continued expansion of the heating network.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: Merkur (04.10..26) – Süddeutsche Zeitung (05.10.26) – Freiwillige Feuerwehr Straßlach (05.10.26)