Carpentry fire in Wildhaus: extinguishing work and road closures continue – property damage well over a million francs
A carpentry shop on the main street in Wildhaus caught fire early Wednesday morning. The extinguishing work continues, as does the blocking of the road.
Several firefighters are trying to get the fire under control.
On Wednesday morning, shortly following 6 a.m., a message was received by the cantonal emergency call center: A carpentry shop in Wildhaus is on fire. On site, the deployed rescue workers found that the building was fully engulfed in fire. Around 80 firefighters have been fighting the fire ever since.
“The fire is now under control, but the extinguishing work is still ongoing,” says Simon Anderhalden, media spokesman for the cantonal police on request. The emergency services are still fighting individual sources of fire and are also trying to prevent the flames from spreading to surrounding houses. So far, the fire brigade has been able to save the neighboring buildings from the flames.
In addition to the extinguishing work, demolition work has now also begun on the attic, says Anderhalten. The emergency services would thus secure the building, its statics and the surrounding area.
Due to the ongoing work of the emergency services, the main road between Lisighaus and Unterwasser is closed in both directions. A diversion has been signaled by the fire brigade. According to Anderhalden, it is not foreseeable at the moment when the cantonal police will release them once more.
Property damage in the millions
The total damage to the joinery is likely to be well over a million francs. “The reason for the high sum is the value of the building, but also the value of the materials and the current orders that were in it,” says Kapo media spokesman Anderhalden. In addition, the company vehicles of the carpentry shop were also in the building.
In addition to various patrols and specialist services of the St.Gallen canton police, several fire brigades are on duty. Medical professionals with three vehicles and an employee of the St.Gallen building insurance also moved out. However, no one was injured, according to the cantonal police. The cause of the fire is unknown. The specialists from the Forensic Competence Center of the St.Gallen Cantonal Police are now taking care of the investigation. (same/split)
