Fire at German Recycling Plant Under Control; Smoke Warning Issued

Firefighters are working to extinguish remaining embers after a significant fire erupted at a recycling facility in Espelkamp, Germany. The blaze, reported around 4:50 a.m. on May 27, 2026, involved electronic waste stored in a concrete pit. Authorities issued a smoke warning for the area, urging residents to keep windows and doors shut as a precautionary measure.

While initial measurements indicated no immediate danger to the public, the fire department has been actively working to manage the situation. The fire is thought to have been sparked by a battery igniting the stored electronic scrap. Firefighters are currently pulling apart the material to reach any hidden pockets of fire, a process expected to take several more hours.

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Residents should keep windows and doors closed as a precaution.

The fire department confirmed that the main fire is under control. The focus now is on ensuring all smoldering material is fully extinguished to prevent any resurgence of the blaze.

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The fire is under control. Currently, the scrap is being pulled apart to get to the embers, which will take another one to two hours.