The fire caused increased smoke pollution in the surrounding area. Through loudspeaker announcements and the warning apps NINA and Katwarn, residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off ventilation systems. There was no direct fire hazard to the surrounding area. Since the incident, buildings within a radius of about 300 meters around the transformer station were without power. However, employees of the St. Ingbert municipal utilities worked on-site intensively to find a solution to restore electricity to the affected households as quickly as possible. On January 21, 2023, at around 1:15 a.m., power was finally restored. A temporary shelter was set up by employees of the City of St. Ingbert at the Mühlwald school for residents who could not stay at home. However, there was ultimately no need to make use of it. The cause of the fire remains unclear to date. At the moment, a technical defect appears to be the most likely cause.
Fire at Transformer Station disrupts power in St. Ingbert neighborhood Am Mühlwa
