Major fire in St. Marein: Defective battery triggers devastating inferno!

Major fire in St. Marein: Defective battery triggers devastating inferno!

On March 20, 2025, a devastating major fire occurred in the municipality of St. Marein near Graz, in the Petersdorf II district. This one got loud 5min.at triggered by a defective battery in a parked motorhome. The fire quickly spread to adjacent buildings and caused massive damage.

In addition to a residential building, a workshop and a hall were also affected. In total, around 80 caravans and mobile homes were severely or completely damaged. The fire department was on site with over 200 firefighters to extinguish the fire and protect the surrounding buildings. Two firefighters suffered smoke inhalation during the extinguishing work, but were able to be treated at the LKH Feldbach.

Amount of damage and investigations

The exact amount of damage has not yet been quantified, but is expected to be in the millions. The investigations to clarify the exact circumstances of the fire are being carried out by the Styrian State Criminal Police Office. Such incidents are not uncommon, as one of the most common causes of fire incidents are defective electrical devices and batteries, as in the Cause statistics for fire damage 2023 is listed.

In 2023, defects in electrical equipment and batteries were a leading cause of fires, highlighting the need to carry out regular inspections. The effects of such fires can be serious, ranging from property damage to personal injury, as seen in the current case.

The municipality of St. Marein near Graz and the fire departments are now faced with the challenge of both dealing with the damage and taking preventive measures to prevent future fires.