The fires continue to grow more serious, and the number of victims is increasing. A fire in the Warsaw metro, followed by blazes at transformer stations in various locations, a massive blaze in Ząbki, and another in Mińsk Mazowiecki — these are just some of the incidents Mazovian firefighters have responded to. In fact, there have been more fires in the past two weeks. “Investigative bodies, including the prosecutor’s office, fire services, and the Internal Security Agency (ABW), should be asking questions aimed at identifying the causes, ruling out coincidence, and assessing potential systemic threats,” said Col. Mariusz Kozłowski, a former officer of Poland’s special services, in an interview with Niezalezna.pl.
Fire in Ząbki
Since early July, a series of fires have occurred across Poland, some of which raise valid concerns due to their location. Fires at metro stations in Warsaw have caused significant disruptions to public transport, while transformer station fires have prompted fears about the reliability of electricity supply. Large-scale fires at critical facilities have added further questions about their origin.
After several fires in the Warsaw metro, Col. Kozłowski shared a 10-point action plan on the X platform outlining how to respond to events that could pose serious threats to the capital’s safety.
The MSWiA spokesperson, Jacek Dobrzyński, whose previous post was referenced by the security expert, has since deleted it.
What Questions Should Investigators Be Asking?
In light of the recent surge in fires, Kozłowski stressed that authorities should focus on identifying causes, excluding randomness, and assessing systemic vulnerabilities.
He acknowledged that many incidents may result from accidental or technical issues but also noted that “reports about ABW investigating sabotage hypotheses highlight the need for caution.” He warned against premature conclusions that could fuel potential Russian psychological operations.
Kozłowski emphasized the need to consider disinformation tactics, posing questions such as:
- “How could psychological operations (psy-ops) be used to amplify conspiracy theories surrounding the fires, in order to further destabilize society? Are disinformation channels on social media being monitored?”
- “Are there mechanisms for rapidly responding to fire-related disinformation to prevent the spread of fear and division — such as narratives of a ‘hybrid-fire war’?”
Timeline of Fires Since the Beginning of July in Mazovia and Beyond
Tuesday, July 1
- A fire broke out overnight at Racławicka metro station. Smoke and flames were seen in a cable tunnel in the technical section, affecting a power substation. At its peak, 11 firefighting units responded. The incident disrupted the entire M1 metro line.
- The fire damaged systems related to train movement control and power supply. The station is located next to the Border Guard headquarters. Since then, trains no longer stop at Racławicka, causing major transportation issues. A replacement bus service has been introduced.
Wednesday, July 2
- Around 2:00 p.m., heavy smoke was once again seen at Racławicka station. Firefighters located the source, and the incident was resolved within three hours with the help of six units.
- Around 4:00 p.m., drivers at Dworzec Gdański metro station reported smoke in the tunnel. At least four fire and police units responded, and the M1 line was again suspended for several hours. The cause remains unclear.
- At 6:00 p.m., a fire erupted at a transformer station in Legionowo, causing a blackout. The outage lasted about an hour until emergency services restored power.
- At 9:00 p.m., a loud explosion and thick smoke were reported by residents in Warsaw’s Grochów district. A transformer station near Zamieniecka Street and Park Znicza had caught fire. Firefighters advised residents not to open windows. Fourteen fire units fought the blaze and extinguished it within two hours.
Thursday, July 3
- Around 5:00 p.m., an explosion and fire occurred at a local energy plant in Garwolin, leaving thousands without electricity. Five firefighting units used dry-chemical extinguishers to put out the high-voltage transformer blaze.
- Around 7:00 p.m., a large residential building in Ząbki caught fire, engulfing the entire roof and spreading quickly. Over 200 residents were evacuated and have yet to return to their homes. The top two floors were completely destroyed, and lower floors were flooded during firefighting efforts.
The Internal Security Agency (ABW), alongside police, fire services, and prosecutors, is also investigating the Ząbki fire. They are checking whether footage of the burning building appeared in Russian media and by what channels — a potential “Russian trace” is being investigated. Sources say that the same ABW officers who responded to the massive market hall fire on Marywilska 44 are handling this investigation.
Friday, July 4
- At 10:15 a.m., a fire was reported at a “Biedronka” supermarket in the town of Buk. A total of 118 firefighters, including 42 units, drones, and a fire robot, responded. The fire was so intense that the building could not be saved. The blaze spread rapidly through the attic and roof, where photovoltaic panels were installed.
Sunday, July 6
- At least 20 firefighting units were dispatched to a warehouse in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, where electric scooters and other equipment were stored and caught fire.
Wednesday, July 9
- Thirty-four firefighters and 14 fire units responded to a fire at an e-waste warehouse near the Bumar-Łabędy Mechanical Plant in Gliwice. The facility is part of the Polish Armaments Group and specializes in armored vehicle production. Residents were urged to keep windows shut due to smoke.
Sunday, July 13
- At 7:35 p.m., a fire broke out at a production and storage facility in Mińsk Mazowiecki that manufactures packaging and plastic films. The fire was contained by Monday night, and extinguishing operations continued into the morning.
- At its peak, over 50 firefighting units and more than 200 firefighters were on site. Collapsed roofing and burning materials hindered the operation.
- Before 10:00 p.m., another fire ignited at the Kędzierzyn-Koźle site — this time a container of electronic equipment and nearby wooden pallets. Twelve fire units quickly extinguished the flames.
- “At this time, we cannot determine whether it was arson; the matter is under investigation,” said Captain Martin Kroker, deputy commander of Rescue and Firefighting Unit No. 1 in Kędzierzyn-Koźle.