Thursday, 3 July
Schöneberg blaze leaves three apartment buildings uninhabitable
It was just after sunrise yesterday evening when a fire broke out on the roof of a five-story apartment building on Kärntener Straße in Berlin-Schöneberg. The blaze spread quickly, sending thick black smoke over the neighbourhood and prompting a large-scale firefighting operation.
The fire department reportedly deployed 130 firefighters to extinguish the fire over several hours in the sweltering heat, using ladders, breathing equipment and multiple hose lines. One resident was hospitalised with smoke inhalation. Others escaped via scaffolding or were led out by emergency crews.
A structural engineer later deemed the affected building and two adjacent ones unsafe. All three are now considered uninhabitable. The district office has arranged temporary accommodation for the displaced residents.
Preliminary investigations suggest that an issue with the roofing work may have caused the fire. According to Berlin police, heat generated during recent repairs may have caused the roof to ignite. Authorities are now investigating the incident as a suspected case of negligent arson.
Traffic in the area was disrupted for hours, with parts of Hauptstraße and several other streets closed off. Fire crews cited the extreme heat as a major challenge, requiring frequent rotation of personnel.
