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Location in Hofkirchen: property damage in the millions
Photo: Armin Weigel / dpa
A devastating fire in Hofkirchen near Passau in Lower Bavaria may have been caused by charcoal that had not yet cooled down. There is currently no evidence of intentional arson, the police said.
Five apartment buildings in the town center were on fire on Easter Monday and, according to investigators, were completely destroyed. The residents were able to be brought to safety. The houses are no longer habitable.
According to initial estimates, the damage is more than one million euros, according to police. At its peak, around 240 emergency services fought the fire. One house had to be demolished, and the district office imposed a ban on entry to the rest. The fire started in a garage and then spread to neighboring homes.
bbr/dpa