Tragic farm fire in Medlingen: Dozens of cattle die!

Tragic farm fire in Medlingen: Dozens of cattle die!

On Thursday night there was a devastating fire on a farm in Untermedlingen, Dillingen an der Donau district. The fire brigade was called at 3:15 a.m., but when the emergency services arrived, the cowshed was already fully ablaze. Tragically, 32 calves and young cattle died in the flames, while around 45 cows were rescued from adjacent stables. The cause of the fire is currently unclear and investigations are ongoing.

The fire brigade was on site with around 150 emergency services from several departments in the region as well as groups from the technical relief organization. Their quick action prevented the flames from spreading to neighboring stables and the house. The material damage is estimated at around one million euros; The follow-up extinguishing work lasted until Thursday morning. For the surviving cattle, the veterinary office ordered them to be moved to other stables to ensure their safety. Fortunately, there were no injuries, police said. [Augsburger Allgemeine](https://www.augsburger- Allgemeine.de/dillingen/brand-auf-bauerhof-in-medlingen-dutzende-rinder-denken-109677564) reports that similar incidents have recently been reported in other regions.

Causes of fire and safety precautions

A closer look at the causes of fires in agriculture shows that there are no comprehensive nationwide statistics on agricultural fires in Germany. This is a problem that the “Stable Fires” initiative has denounced, as the lack of reporting requirements in many federal states, such as Lower Saxony, makes it significantly more difficult to record fire incidents. In a request from 2020, the Federal Government's Scientific Service was unable to provide reliable figures and refers to Jürgen Kunkelmann's analysis, which covers the period from 1999 to 2012. Kunkelmann identified electricity (23%) and arson (15%) as the most common causes of fire, with human error also cited as a significant factor. Agrarheute

When it comes to safety precautions in agriculture, preventive measures must be taken to minimize fire hazards. Particular care should be taken when storing straw and hay as these materials are highly flammable. A safety distance of at least 25 to 100 meters from power lines and flammable materials should be maintained. Regular checking of electrical devices is also essential. To prevent the risk of spontaneous combustion of hay and straw, they should always be stored in a dry place and their temperature should be checked regularly. Fire Protection Center states that if temperatures exceed 60°C or if there is a smell of fire, the fire department should be urgently alerted.