Fire in Berlin refugee shelter in Spandau – hundreds of residents evacuated

The fire department has not yet provided any conclusive information on the cause of the fire. The criminal police have launched an investigation to clarify the sequence of events and the cause of the blaze. Property damage and possible injuries were initially not conclusively quantified.

Cause of the fire still unclear

According to the fire department, the Spandau district office is responsible for organizing the emergency accommodation. It is coordinating the care of those made homeless and providing replacement quarters. "Darum kümmert sich laut Feuerwehr das Bezirksamt," the operations command said.

Tasks of the district office

Helena Daehler informed the public about the ongoing operation. She called on residents to avoid the area around the scene of operations widely and to follow the instructions of the emergency services. Rescue services and relief organizations supported the measures on site.

The fire occurred in a facility that has been used as a refugee shelter for years. The resident structure is international; many of the accommodated people come from crisis regions and in some cases have traumatic flight experiences behind them. Helpers from charitable organizations were on site in the morning to provide psychosocial care to those evacuated and to supply them with the bare necessities.

Berlin authorities pointed out that safety standards in the shelters are regularly reviewed. According to initial findings, the fire alarm system functioned and enabled the rapid evacuation. How the fire nevertheless broke out is now the subject of the ongoing investigation.

Operation under control – investigations ongoing

The district office is examining which vacant premises in the district can be used at short notice as emergency shelters. Sports halls and other municipal properties are also being considered as alternative quarters. Initial results were expected over the course of the day.

Residents from the surrounding streets observed the operation. Numerous rescue vehicles, including turntable ladders and fire engines, partially blocked the access roads to the shelter. The police closed off adjacent streets so as not to impede the emergency services.

Federal and state politicians expressed concern about the incident. On social networks, private individuals spontaneously offered donations of goods and accommodation. The responsible authorities accepted these offers of help and coordinated their distribution.

After several hours, the fire was under control according to the fire department. However, firefighting and overhaul operations continued, which is why the scene of operations remained cordoned off for the time being. Residents were only able to return to the building after clearance from the operations command, insofar as this was possible.

The Berlin Senate Department for Integration announced that it would review the incident and provide comprehensive care for those affected. In addition to initial emergency accommodation, interpreters were also to be made available to ensure communication with the residents.

The Berlin police asked witnesses to come forward with information about the course of the fire. Whether there were any injuries was still unclear at the time of the report. The authorities announced a press conference for the remainder of the day, at which they were to provide information on the current status of the investigation and the care of those evacuated.