Balcony fire in Arlesheim: Basel-Landschaft police investigating – family temporarily homeless
If you were keeping an eye on things in Arlesheim late yesterday afternoon, you'd have suddenly seen smoke rising above a block of flats on the well-known main street. Basel-Landschaft police were alerted straight away – and multiple patrol cars headed to the scene. The reason? A balcony fire that briefly sounded pretty intense, as a local resident told me later in the evening.
It was a serious situation, but luckily the residents reacted quickly. Basel-Landschaft police confirmed to me on site that no one was injured in the fire. That's the main thing. The fire brigade got the blaze under control fast – but one apartment on the affected floor is temporarily uninhabitable. The family had to leave the area; friends and neighbours have taken them in. That's the kind of community spirit I know around here.
What exactly happened
According to initial findings from Basel-Landschaft police, the fire broke out on a balcony on the first floor. The exact cause is still being investigated, but investigators aren't ruling anything out at this stage. The scene has been cordoned off and forensic evidence secured. Standard procedure for this kind of incident – the pros from Basel-Landschaft police are working closely with the cantonal police.
- Time of incident: Around 4:30 pm
- Location: Arlesheim, near the town centre
- Damage: One apartment temporarily uninhabitable, balcony completely burnt out
- Injuries: None – that's the best news of all
A neighbour told me he first heard a loud bang, then saw smoke. "I called Basel-Landschaft police straight away," he said. And they were pretty quick to arrive. The fire brigade from Arlesheim and the surrounding area also turned out in force. They stopped the flames from spreading to other apartments. Hats off to the crew in blue and orange.
What happens now
Basel-Landschaft police have launched an investigation. A fire cause investigator has already been on site. It could have been a technical fault – or maybe careless behaviour? That should become clear in the coming days. The affected family is being supported by social services, and the local council of Arlesheim is helping out wherever it can.
For anyone breathing a sigh of relief: the balcony fire is completely out, and there's no further danger to other tenants. But Basel-Landschaft police are strongly warning against open flames on balconies, especially in dry weather. Even if it didn't look like it today – better safe than sorry.
I'll keep you posted as soon as there's news from the Basel-Landschaft police media office. Until then: cheers to the speedy emergency crews who keep us all safe. And I wish the family all the best – hopefully they'll be back in their own home soon.