Drama in Emmerke: Weed burner sets three buildings on fire!

Drama in Emmerke: Weed burner sets three buildings on fire!

What happens when a simple gardening task leads to a catastrophic fire? This is shown by an incident in Emmerke that recently caused a stir. On Saturday, June 23, 2025, a fire started on Main Street, setting three buildings ablaze. The cause was a weed burner that was used to cultivate the front yard of a house. The flames quickly ate into the facade and spread to an adjacent house and a barn.

The alleged owner and other residents were able to evacuate in time so that no one was injured. However, the fire caused enormous property damage, estimated in the high six-figure range. The fire brigade was on duty and used two turntable ladders, but the condition of the affected buildings is alarming: they are considered to be in danger of collapsing and have therefore become uninhabitable.

Fire hazard warning

This incident is not isolated. Fire accidents caused by weed burners also present similar risks in other regions. The Aargau cantonal police reported an incident in Oberentfelden where a resident tried to burn off weeds with a gas burner and set a thuja hedge on fire. Neighbors tried in vain to put out the fire with a garden hose and a watering can. Fortunately, the fire department was able to prevent anything worse and avert major damage to the building.

The police repeatedly warn against the use of weed burners, especially during dry periods. “There is a lot of fire danger in the air at these temperatures,” they say, and they give practical tips to avoid accidents. Distances from hedges, wood and buildings are important, as is extreme caution in windy and dry conditions. Having a fire extinguisher or bucket of water ready can also be crucial in an emergency.

An unsightly trend

In a similar situation in Kötz, it was also reported that a man wanted to fight weeds with a Bunsen burner. Midsummer temperatures and weeks of drought made this attempt particularly risky. Here too, the fire took hold of the hedge, which was estimated to be worth around 300 euros.

In summary, the warnings and advice in many places are now required at the latest. Given the fire-hazardous situations that can arise from weed burners, hobby gardeners should be particularly careful. Whether in Lower Saxony or elsewhere, the use of these devices must always be done carefully. This is the only way to prevent harmless gardening from becoming a major disaster.

So the message remains clear: a good hand when using weed burners is the be-all and end-all to avoid turning pleasant summer evenings into a terrible fiasco.