Fire station burns down for lack of... smoke detector!
A recently built state-of-the-art fire station in Stadtallendorf, Germany, has been completely razed to ashes by a fire that started in a vehicle. The construction costed tens of millions of euros.
The building, which was completed less than a year ago, was not equipped with a fire alarm or smoke detector. According to regulations, it was not required because it was classified as a building housing equipment.
About 170 firefighters, including firefighters from the station itself, fought the fire. In the fire, 10 fire engines were destroyed, but no injuries were caused. The damage is estimated at 20 to 24 million euros (22 to 26 US dollars).
The incident has caused a lot of outrage. There are now calls to review safety regulations for fire stations.
(Fausto by Tagtik/Source: Stern, Guardian/Illustration picture: picture alliance/dpa/Michael Rinde | Michael Rinde)