WINTERTHUR (SWITZERLAND): On Friday, August 9, 2024, a fire in Winterthur (ZH) destroyed several caravans and bungalows at the Schützenweiher campsite.
At around 4 p.m., guests at the Schützenweiher campsite reported via the emergency services that several caravans were on fire on the adjacent property. The fire brigade from Schutz & Intervention Winterthur was dispatched immediately and found a rapidly spreading fire on site. In addition to the high flames and the intense heat, several exploding gas bottles posed a challenge. The fire brigade managed to gain control of the fire and extinguish it.
All residents of the affected residential units and the guests of the campsite were able to get to safety in time. No one was injured in the fire. The emergency services from Bülach, Winterthur and Protection and Rescue Zurich were deployed to provide medical assistance. The fire destroyed several caravans and bungalows. The damage is estimated to be several hundred thousand francs. The affected residents organized emergency accommodation themselves or through the governor.
The Winterthur city police, together with the fire department, immediately arrived at the scene of the accident after receiving the report and took over the organization of the accident site. The Zurich cantonal police and the Zurich Forensic Institute were on hand to carry out the criminal investigation. They secured evidence and conducted interviews. The cause of the fire is the subject of the police investigation and is still unknown. Since extinguishing water got into public waters during the extinguishing work, a fisheries inspector was on duty to assess the situation. He was able to give the all-clear and determined that the nature was not seriously endangered by the extinguishing water.
