Wiesbaden firefighters battle 55 blazes on chaotic New Year’s Eve
Wiesbaden’s fire crews faced a busy New Year’s Eve, responding to 55 fires and eight other emergencies. While most incidents caused no injuries, a deadly clash in Hirschgraben marked an otherwise typical night. The city’s fire service also assisted colleagues in Mainz-Hechtsheim, where a major blaze broke out at a horse farm.
Between 8 p.m. on 31 December and 8 a.m. on 1 January, firefighters tackled multiple small blazes. Balconies and rubbish bins caught fire, likely due to mishandled fireworks. Several callouts turned out to be false alarms, but no one suffered harm in the confirmed fires.
Ambulance teams handled 125 emergency calls during the same period. Hospitals in Wiesbaden reported no unusual surge in patients, suggesting most injuries remained minor or nonexistent. The most serious incident involved a fatal confrontation in Hirschgraben. Details remain limited, but authorities confirmed one death. Meanwhile, Wiesbaden’s fire department sent a ladder truck to Mainz-Hechtsheim. There, crews joined local firefighters battling a large stable yard fire. The operation required extensive effort to bring the flames under control.
The night ended with no fire-related injuries, though one person died in the Hirschgraben altercation. Fire services managed all incidents without major complications. Emergency call volumes remained steady, matching expectations for the holiday period.
