A barn is on fire in Wiler near Utzenstorf

The emergency services were on site with a large contingent.

Katja Jeggli

Big fire: A stable burned in Wiler near Utzenstorf – no people or animals were injured

A series of fires in the canton of Solothurn has been causing horror since the beginning of April. On Tuesday evening it burned again – but this time in Wiler near Utzenstorf in Bern, just a few kilometers from the canton border.

The fire broke out shortly before 7:30 p.m. in Wiler near Utzenstorf BE. According to this, a stable with an adjoining house was on fire, and the members of three fire brigades were on site.

As local residents said to this newspaper, the blue light organizations quickly moved out with a large contingent. The affected area was cordoned off extensively. When the emergency services arrived, the economic part of the building was on fire, according to the Bern canton police.

The fire brigade was able to bring the fire under control relatively quickly.

Corinne Glanzmann

However, the ponies and horses that were in the stable have already been brought to safety. The residents of the adjacent residential building were able to leave the building independently. No people were injured.

The 64 members of the fire brigades Untere Emme, Kirchberg and the professional fire brigade from Bern Protection and Rescue were able to bring the fire under control around 10 p.m. and extinguish the fire.

Due to the straw stored in the economic part and the existing nests of embers, the extinguishing work lasted until the early hours of the morning, according to the Bern cantonal police. 20 members of the Koppigen and Burgdorf fire brigades were called in to provide support during the post-extinguishing work. A fire watch was posted.

A spread to the adjacent residential building could be prevented. The economic part, on the other hand, was completely destroyed. An apartment is currently no longer habitable. Alternative accommodation could be organised.

There is a railway line right next to the affected building.

There is a railway line right next to the affected building.

Corinne Glanzmann

The affected building is located directly next to the Solothurn-Burgdorf railway line. Therefore, rail traffic between Wiler and Utzenstorf had to be temporarily suspended. There were replacement buses.

It was not yet known on Tuesday evening whether there was a connection with the series of fires in the water department. The cantonal police in Bern have started investigations to clarify the cause of the fire.

The Bernese town of Wiler near Utzenstorf borders on the canton of Solothurn:

There has been a fire in the neighboring water office eleven times since the beginning of April. Three fires were added last weekend alone. Specialists from the canton police and public prosecutor’s office are investigating at full speed in Solothurn. Already after the first fires in April, there were quick investigation results that pointed to arson. (sva/bey)

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