A newly constructed fire station in Stadtallendorf, Germany, was destroyed in a fire early Wednesday morning. The fire caused millions of euros in damage and sparked outrage over the building’s lack of a fire alarm system.

Blaze engulfs equipment hall and emergency vehicles

The fire broke out at the Stadtallendorf fire station in Hesse, devastating the equipment hall and nearly a dozen emergency vehicles. Initial estimates suggest the damage could be as high as €24 million. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Absence of fire alarm system

Local officials revealed that the building, which opened less than a year ago, did not have a fire alarm system installed. Experts had reportedly deemed the alarms unnecessary—a decision that has astonished many in the wake of the blaze. The fire originated in one of the fire department’s emergency vehicles, which contained lithium-ion batteries and was connected to an external power source.

Calls for rethinking fire safety standards

Norbert Fischer, head of the State Fire Brigade Association of Hesse, expressed his concern, stating that the incident should serve as a wake-up call to reconsider fire protection requirements in fire stations.

“There is a lot of technology in fire stations, and batteries are being charged, so it would make sense to equip them with fire alarm systems,” Fischer said. While it is unclear whether a fire alarm system could have prevented the extensive damage, Fischer emphasized the rapid spread of the fire, saying, “This fire spread at breakneck speed.”