Firefighters have successfully contained the blaze that broke out on Monday at a warehouse and production facility located on Chemiczna Street in Siemianowice Śląskie. According to emergency services, no water contamination occurred, and no one was injured in the incident.
The fire started shortly before 4:00 PM in the city’s industrial zone. Fire brigades arrived on scene within ten minutes of the emergency call. Upon arrival, the fire was already fully developed, engulfing a large portion of the plastics processing facility.
During a press briefing held on Monday evening, Silesian Voivode Marek Wójcik confirmed that the fire had been brought under control and that firefighting crews were working to extinguish the remaining hotspots.
The burning facility also housed a car rental service and an auto repair workshop. The voivode explained that the fire spread rapidly due to the nature of the businesses operating there and the materials stored on site.
“Given the circumstances – including plastics, technical gas cylinders, and oils – this fire progressed extremely rapidly,”
emphasized Wójcik.
A total of 48 units from both the State and Volunteer Fire Services, involving 116 firefighters, were engaged in the firefighting operation. The fire affected an area of approximately 1,600 square meters.
“Our operations included firefighting, water supply logistics, tactical-level command and coordination, establishing a staging area for incoming units and resources, and managing the chemical and environmental response,”
reported Silesian Provincial Commander of the State Fire Service, Senior Brigadier Damian Legierski.
Despite the challenging conditions, firefighters were able to save parts of the surrounding industrial infrastructure.
“One of the halls was saved, as well as an adjacent administrative building and two five-ton diesel fuel tanks,”
said the voivode.
According to the State Fire Service (PSP), all employees were safely evacuated at the onset of the incident. As of now, there are no reported injuries among civilians or firefighters.
Preliminary findings shared by Interior Ministry spokesperson Jacek Dobrzyński suggest that the fire may have started during the operation of a laser-cutting machine.
“One employee noted that the fire likely originated in the production area for plastic components, where there’s a machine that cuts these elements. I can’t precisely identify the type of device,”
said Legierski.
Throughout the entire firefighting effort, a mobile laboratory from the State Fire Service was on site, conducting air quality measurements in the affected area and surrounding residential neighborhoods, including districts of Siemianowice, Sosnowiec, and Katowice.
“No firefighting water entered any natural watercourses or the sewage system, so there is no threat to the nearby river,”
confirmed Martyna Burzawa from the Regional Environmental Protection Inspectorate in Katowice. She added that inspectors would continue monitoring the site after suppression efforts conclude.
Due to elevated levels of airborne particulate matter, the Government Security Center (RCB) issued a public alert.
“The RCB alert was triggered because chemical unit firefighters detected elevated particulate levels in the area. No toxic substances were identified. The particulates were carried by the wind toward uninhabited areas,”
the voivode stressed.
“After several hours of monitoring, all test results are now within normal limits,”
added Burzawa.
Firefighters continue to extinguish remaining hot spots and are inspecting the site for any hazardous material residues. The area is being illuminated, and personnel are supplied with water and food in preparation for extended operations.
“We’re preparing for a fairly prolonged mop-up phase. It’s hard to say exactly, but I expect the last crews will be leaving in the early morning hours,”
concluded Senior Brigadier Legierski.