A CLUSTER OF ARSONS IN ALTENKUNSTADT, BAVARIA, GERMANY Wednesday morning kept more than 200 volunteer firefighters busy in the heart of town.  Shortly after midnight a call came in for an auto fire that was quickly knocked down by a policeman before the VFD got on the scene.

While they were investigating the auto, about 10 minutes later a large trash container on a neighboring street was set alight.  The feuerwehrmans (firefighters) redeployed quickly and put it out in short order.  But only 2 minutes after that came a call for a barn fire just 600 feet away.

When they arrived there were two barns fully involved and a house close by was threatened.  Extra alarms were called to contain the fire, save the house and evacuate nearby residents.  The FF’s also managed to save some horses from one of the barns.

A local brewery, the Leikeim Brewery, is also next door to the barns and there was a fear that it would be lost, too.  They did manage to save the brewhouse, but the fire destroyed the building housing their electric generator and all the coolers in the lagering house shut down.  This resulted in the spoiling of more than a thousand gallons of unfinished beer which had to be dumped.  Leikeim had enough finished stock on hand, however, to maintain deliveries until they get the coolers running again.

Leikeim Brewery power house

Fire officials are crediting the lack of any wind during the night helping them contain the fire to the point of origin and not spreading through the town.  Property damages are estimated to exceed $1.25 million.  Police are actively seeking the arsonist.

The point of origin in the barn at lower left.  The house
was remarkably saved just as the fire was beginning
to spread into it.  The brewery power house is
just out of sight at lower right.

 
The Altenkunstadt Feuerwehr made a terrific stop.

The Coburg Neue Presse has the story and more photos HERE.
Leikeim Brewery WEBSITE.

Hat tip to Christian L.

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