STORY: Fire at IREKS' production plant extinguished quickly

On Tuesday, 31 March 2020, a fire broke out in the production area of IREKS GmbH in Kulmbach.

IREKS released the following statement:

Thanks to the determined effort of local fire brigades and the supporting staff, the fire was brought under control and completely extinguished within a short period of time. Nobody was injured.

Due to a flour dust explosion in the area of the baking ingredients production there was a large-scale fire-fighting operation in the late evening on the premises of IREKS GmbH in the Lichtenfelser Straße in Kulmbach.

The fire started in a subarea of the baking ingredients production, which is physically separated from the other production facilities. The fire had spread over several floors, but was quickly brought under control by the alarmed fire brigades and was completely extinguished during the night. Approx. 200 rescue workers were involved in the operation – the company would like to express its special thanks to them. Fortunately, neither employees nor emergency personnel were injured.

The Management Board of IREKS GmbH said: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to all firefighters, rescue workers, the police and all other helpers who, through their fast, courageous and competent efforts during the major fire in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, prevented worse things from happening.

We consider ourselves fortunate to be located in a town and region in which more than 200 firefighters from the districts of Kulmbach, Lichtenfels and Bayreuth have taken up fire-fighting in the shortest possible time and have done everything possible to bring the situation under control as quickly as possible, to take the necessary precautions and to initiate the appropriate measures.”

The company is currently making every effort to maintain its ability to deliver. According to initial estimates, the amount of damage is in the mid single-digit million range.