Balcony fire in Arlesheim: Basel-Landschaft police investigate – family temporarily homeless
If you were keeping your eyes open in Arlesheim late on the afternoon, you would have suddenly seen smoke rising above a block of flats on the well-known main street. Basel-Landschaft police were alerted immediately – and several patrol cars arrived on the scene. The reason: a balcony fire that, from what a resident told me later in the evening, sounded pretty intense for a while.
The situation was serious, but thankfully 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 swiftly – but one flat 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 under investigation, but the investigators aren't ruling anything out at this stage. The scene has been cordoned off and evidence secured. Standard procedure for this kind of incident – the Basel-Landschaft police professionals are working closely with the cantonal police.
- Time of incident: Around 4:30 PM
- Location: Arlesheim, near the village centre
- Damage: One flat temporarily uninhabitable, balcony completely burnt out
- Casualties: None – that's the best news
A neighbour told me he first heard a loud bang, then saw smoke pouring out. "I called Basel-Landschaft police straight away," he said. And they were there pretty quickly. The fire brigade from Arlesheim and the surrounding area also turned out in force. They stopped the flames from spreading to other flats. Hats off to the men and women in blue and orange.
What happens now
Basel-Landschaft police have launched an investigation. A fire investigator has already been on site. It could have been a technical fault – or perhaps careless behaviour? That should become clear in the coming days. The affected family is being supported by social services, and the municipality of Arlesheim is helping where it can.
For everyone who can now breathe a sigh of relief: the balcony fire has been completely extinguished, and there is no further danger to the other tenants. But Basel-Landschaft police are strongly warning against having naked flames on balconies, especially in dry weather. Even if it didn't look like it today – better to be safe than sorry.
I'll keep you posted. As soon as there's news from the Basel-Landschaft police press office, you'll hear it here. Until then: cheers to the rapid responders who keep us all safe. And I wish the family all the best – hopefully they can soon return to their own home.