On 28 February 2025, a large-scale fire was reported in the village of Hustopeče nad Bečvou in the Olomouc Region involving railway tankers carrying benzene. Due to the high danger of this chemical, a special fire alarm level was declared and firefighting units from all over the region immediately rushed to the scene. This intervention in Hustopeče nad Bečvou was characterized by the deployment of state-of-the-art firefighting equipment – the Colossus robot, a high-capacity CAS 40 Tatra 815-7 tanker, and more.
Initial deployment and escalation of the situation
The first units arrived on scene shortly after the fire was reported at 11:39. The situation developed quickly and by 13:00 the number of units intervening had increased to 29. Later, after 14:00, 39 units were already registered, of which 12 from the Fire Brigade of the Olomouc Region and 17 from the Fire Brigades of the Moravian-Silesian and Zlín Regions. For the first time in history, the Czech Republic Police airborne equipment was also deployed to this type of fire, carrying out a total of 50 water drops using a Bambi bag.
The nature of the fire and the danger of benzene
Benzene is a toxic, highly flammable liquid with carcinogenic effects. Soot and potentially hazardous fumes are released during combustion. Firefighters therefore took extraordinary measures, including sending warning text messages to residents in the vicinity and monitoring the air by a chemical laboratory from Frenštát pod Radhoštěm. Preliminary analyses showed that the air samples were negative.
International cooperation
Due to the scale of the fire, a reinforced intervention from the Slovak Republic was requested. The Fire and Rescue Corps of the Slovak Republic sent special equipment to the fire site – a large-capacity tanker CAS 40 Tatra 815-7 10×10, nicknamed “Beštia”, and a firefighting robot COLOSSUS. The Slovak units were actively involved in the fight with the flames, while the COLOSSUS robot was used to survey the intervention site and identify critical points via thermal imaging camera.
Complexity of intervention and organisation
Firefighters formed six response sections at the scene to coordinate the firefighting efficiently. A total of 160 firefighters were involved in the intervention , 60 pieces of equipment and 4 drones were used to monitor the situation. Due to the danger of toxic fumes, firefighters were equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus (ADP).
Investigation and ecological consequences
The firefighting operation lasted well into the night hours and the firefighters cooperated with environmental protection authorities (CIŽP, ORP Water Authority, Morava River Basin) to prevent ecological damage. After the flames were extinguished, the chemical residues were pumped into spare tankers and the affected railway carriages were subsequently removed. Preliminary damage is estimated at CZK 125 million, while investigators of the Fire Brigade of the Czech Republic, together with criminal investigators of the Czech Police and the Railway Inspectorate, are determining the exact cause of the fire.
Source of information and photos: HZS Olomouc Region and Fire and Rescue Corps
