In Ofterdingen in the Tübingen district, the filter system of a textile company burned on Tuesday afternoon, August 25th. Presumably a technical defect allowed oil to get into the system, which then ignited. However, the fire spread to a machine and continued to smolder there. According to police, three firefighters suffered electric shocks and minor injuries during the extinguishing work. The operator had previously announced that the electricity in the building was switched off. In addition, according to the SWR, three employees inhaled smoke gases and needed medical help. The fire department warned residents within a 500 meter radius because of the thick smoke. You should therefore keep windows and doors closed. The extinguishing work lasted until around 3:30 p.m., while the extent of the damage initially remained unknown.
Fire spreads inside a machine
At around 11:45 a.m., a passerby noticed heavy smoke coming from a chimney and alerted the police. At the same time, a patrol car crew spotted the smoke rising above the company premises. However, thick smoke had already spread throughout the factory hall, forcing all employees to evacuate the building. The fire department began firefighting operations immediately afterwards.
Image: Shutterstock
The fire in the filtration system was initially extinguished quickly. However, the flames had apparently already spread to a connected machine. The fire continued to smolder there, resulting in an operation that lasted several hours. The fire department also requested reinforcements from Mössingen and Tübingen. According to SWR, up to twelve fire service vehicles were on the scene at one point.
Electric shocks despite reported power shutdown
The most unusual aspect of the operation occurred during the firefighting efforts. Incident commander Fabian Fröhlich explained to SWR that the operator had previously stated the power supply had been shut off. Nevertheless, several emergency responders suffered electric shocks while fighting the fire. A representative from the utility company called to the scene was initially unable to explain the source of the voltage. Consequently, the cause of the electrical incident remained undetermined even after the operation concluded.
Initial reports regarding the number of injured firefighters vary. SWR initially reported two men who were examined by an emergency doctor, including via ECG. However, the police reported three firefighters with minor injuries; a recent regional news update from August 26 confirms this figure. Thus, the responders suffered electric shocks despite the fact that the building’s power supply had reportedly been shut off.
Cause of electrical voltage remains unclear
Various electrical systems can play a role in industrial fires. Moreover, shutting off the standard building power supply is not always sufficient to ensure a completely de-energized state; this applies, for instance, in cases involving auxiliary power generation systems or separate circuits. However, authorities have not yet disclosed the specific technical configuration present in Ofterdingen. Consequently, no specific system can currently be identified as the cause.
A possible connection to a photovoltaic system has also not been substantiated so far. The technical investigation of the affected facility and its electrical systems therefore remains crucial. To date, the police have merely narrowed down the likely point of origin of the fire. Indications suggest that a technical defect caused oil to enter the filtration system and catch fire. As of Wednesday, there was also no reliable information available regarding the extent of the property damage.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: SWR (25.08.26) – Polizeipräsidium Reutlingen (25.08.26) – Südwest Presse (25.08.26)