Huge fire in Hameln's indoor playground: suspected arson!

Huge fire in Hameln's indoor playground: suspected arson!

On April 7, 2025, a huge fire reduced the indoor play paradise “Ratzfatz” in Klein Berkel to rubble and ashes. The impressive building, measuring 60 by 50 meters, was completely burned down and only the floor slab remained. The damage caused is estimated at between 1 and 1.5 million euros, which destroyed a family's livelihood in just 30 minutes Dewezet reported.

The cause of the fire remains unclear for the time being. An incendiary detection dog was unable to detect any signs of flammable liquids, puzzling investigators. However, it is suspected that the hall was set on fire with a mixture containing turpentine. The managing director, Franz Noack, is increasingly being targeted by investigators and protests his innocence. His cell phone was confiscated, while he asserts that he was at a fair in Detmold at the time of the fire. The 20,000 euro investment in new electric cars and a large bouncy castle raises questions, and the fire ruins will remain confiscated until further notice.

Drama on the night of the fire

The dramatic scenes during the fire itself show how quickly the situation escalated. The playground operator's son, who was sleeping in the hall at the time of the fire, was woken up at 2:05 a.m. by loud bangs coming from print cartridges. It was he who alerted the fire department and was able to be rescued in time. When the emergency services arrived, the flames were shooting meters high into the night sky and almost 200 firefighters were needed to put out the embers. Objective reports, on the other hand, state that the fire department had to go out again the following Tuesday to clear out the last embers.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is in full swing. Not only are fire investigators involved, but also external experts who are supposed to inspect the fire ruins over the course of the week. The NDR reports that parts of the hall building, which was in danger of collapsing, even had to be demolished by the technical relief organization in order to avoid further danger. This caution suggests that safety in the affected areas is of utmost importance.

Safety in indoor playgrounds

The incident also sheds light on general safety standards in indoor playgrounds. These offer parents an alternative to weather hazards, but are not fundamentally immune to dangers. TÜV Thuringia describes in one Blog post that there is no obligation to regularly inspect play equipment in indoor playgrounds after initial acceptance. Ergo, the responsibility largely lies with the operators and ultimately also with the parents. Worn or poorly maintained playground equipment can pose a high risk.

The tragic events that occurred in a short time should be a warning signal for all those operators who do not take sufficient care of the security of their facilities. If a charge of aggravated arson were to be brought, this could have a serious impact not only on the fate of the playground operator, but also on the public's trust in indoor playgrounds as a whole.