Even two days after the major fire broke out on the premises of the tire dealer Göggel in Gammertingen, Baden-Württemberg, it is still unclear what exactly triggered the inferno. At the request of the star, a police spokesman said that the investigation into the cause of the fire would continue. On Saturday, the owner of the company reportedly celebrated his wedding with more than 250 guests at his property next to the premises. “There were also fireworks, but it is still unclear whether that was the cause of the fire,” the police said.
The fire brigade was still in the process of extinguishing the last embers on Monday morning. A smoke warning had been withdrawn. The fire caused damage of several million euros, a warehouse and an administration building were almost completely burned down. Seven wedding guests were hospitalized with smoke inhalation.
On Saturday night, wedding guests noticed that there was a fire on the premises. The police were alerted at around 12:30, and a large contingent of almost 400 firefighters, police officers and paramedics responded. Tires, vehicles, gas bottles and parts of a warehouse quickly went up in flames. The smoke could be seen from miles away, and video snippets from neighbors and eyewitnesses are circulating online.
A spokesman for the fire brigade told the “Reutlinger Generalanzeiger” that part of an affected “building could be saved, another part collapsed”. The firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading to an adjacent residential area and the forest behind the industrial area.
The wedding was apparently a dazzling major event. Stars like the cabaret artist Dave Davis and pop star DJ Ötzi are said to have performed there. According to the “Reutlinger Generalanzeiger”, a Red Bull team with four formation jets was also in the air.
The police are now investigating negligent arson. It should also be investigated whether and what role the fireworks played in the accident. “It remains to be seen to what extent the injuries to the seven people have a criminal connection with the fireworks,” said the police spokesman.
Sources: Police Gammertingen, DPA, “Reutlinger Generalanzeiger”, “Wochenblatt-News”
