Date: August 9, 2023
Location: Menznau, Lucerne (Switzerland)
Address: Willisauerstrasse 37, 6122
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Timber Processing (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Swiss Krono AG
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Swiss Krono AG is a leading international manufacturer of wood-based materials, primarily known for producing laminate flooring, OSB (oriented strand board), and MDF (medium-density fibreboard) panels, among other products. Established in Switzerland in the 1960s, the Swiss Krono Group has since expanded its operations globally, with production sites in several countries across Europe, the United States, and Russia.
Incident Description:
On August 9, 2023, the Luzerner Zeitung reported a fire at a wood processing facility in Menznau, Switzerland.
240 firefighters responded to the expansive fire, which originated in a section where the company converted waste wood into wood chips. Hours into the firefighters’ intervention, some portions of the 12,000 square metre wood chip storage remained on fire. The intense heat caused sections of the steel structure to give way. The highly flammable wood chips not only accelerated the fire’s spread but also impeded quick containment.
The flames later reached wood stacks behind the primary structure. Firefighters managed to prevent further escalation through conveyor belts. To douse the fire, water was sourced from local reserves, which later turned out to be contaminated from the fire fighting process. Consequently, military fire brigades, alongside police, environmental officers, and rescue teams, intervened. The used water was stored for safe disposal.
No injuries were reported.
Sources:
Luzerner Zeitung
