Fire at the nuclear research center in Darmstadt. “Numerous fire brigades were dispatched to the operation”

On Thursday morning, a fire broke out for unknown reasons at the Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research (GSI) in Darmstadt in southwestern Germany. Firefighters are fighting a fire that spread to the electrical power supply of a particle accelerator installation worth several billion euros.

According to the dpa news agency, the fire broke out in the morning and affected the power system of the particle accelerator installation. The report was received by the fire brigade around 6.30.

Security evacuated the facility and employees left the facility. No one was injured.

Numerous fire brigades were dispatched to the operation. The services report significant material losses. According to firefighters, extinguishing operations may last at least until late in the evening.

GSI in Darmstadt conducts research, among others: in the field of plasma, atomic and nuclear physics and nuclear medicine. A new particle accelerator is being built on its premises to be used for research related to space and medicine.

According to Hesse's Minister of Science, Timon Gremmels, the fire will cause delays in the implementation of the international project to build a new accelerator. A trial run of the installation was planned for December. The previous assumptions showed that the first experiments were to start at the end of 2027, and at the end of 2028 – research using a new 1.1 km long accelerator would begin.

The new accelerator is called “FAIR” (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research). This is an international project implemented in cooperation with many countries. In 2024, its cost was estimated at approximately EUR 3.3 billion.

From Berlin Iwona Weidmann (PAP)

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