Fire erupting in the basement of a multi-story building located in Cologne

On Wednesday, 4th of June, 2025, a fire broke out in the basement of a high-rise building located in Cologne-Porz. The Cologne Fire Department was promptly notified at 15:26, and swift action was taken to contain the blaze.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire burning in a large, winding basement room, approximately 30 square metres in size. Due to the ventilation situation and the complex layout of the basement, extinguishing and locating the fire proved challenging.

Two fire engines from the professional fire brigade and one fire group from the volunteer fire brigade were dispatched to the scene. The operations were led by the leadership service of the fire directorate. After approximately 40 minutes of intense efforts, the fire was finally brought under control.

Fortunately, no other injuries were reported, except for a male individual who was on the scene to guide the first responders. He suffered from smoke inhalation and was transported to a hospital for treatment. The stairwell and the floors above were not affected by the smoke, and all residents were able to return to their apartments.

The responding forces, consisting of approximately 75 personnel and 21 vehicles, immediately went into action to extinguish the fire and control adjacent areas. The scene was later handed over to the police for investigation of the cause of the fire.

For further inquiries, please use the press hotline 0221-9748-92 222. The arsonist responsible for the fire has not been publicly identified at this time.

The Cologne Fire Department would like to express their gratitude to the residents for their cooperation during this incident and remind everyone to stay vigilant and report any signs of fire immediately.