World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Gutter heater and summer heat caused Dättwil gym fire, police say
Police say a switched-on gutter heater and extreme summer heat caused the fire at a gym in Dättwil, in the Swiss canton of Aargau.
The blaze broke out on July 29 and severely damaged the gym, its assembly hall and other rooms.
Gutter heaters are used in winter to stop water in roof gutters from freezing.
In the heat, warmth gradually built up in the building’s wooden roof structure and eventually started the fire.
Police said there was no evidence of human error.
About 200 firefighters tackled the blaze, and the city said the affected spaces will be unusable for an extended period.
A gutter heater left switched on, combined with unusually hot summer weather, caused the Dättwil gym fire, police said.
Heat gradually built up in the building’s wooden roof structure and eventually sparked the fire.
The fire broke out on 29 July and caused major damage to the gym and assembly hall.
About 200 firefighters responded, and the firefighting operation continued into the night.
Police said there was no indication of human error.
- Who
- The Aargau cantonal police identified the cause. About 200 firefighters responded to the fire.
- What
- A switched-on gutter heater and unusually hot weather caused the fire, according to police.
- When
- The fire broke out on 29 July. Police announced the cause on 22 October 2026.
- Where
- The gym in Dättwil, Baden, in the Swiss canton of Aargau.
- Why
- Heat gradually built up in the wooden roof structure, where a gutter heater was switched on during unusually hot summer weather.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A fire broke out at the Dättwil gym.
The Aargau cantonal police said a switched-on gutter heater and unusually hot weather caused the fire.
- Fire date
- 29 July
- Location
- Dättwil, Baden, canton of Aargau
- Suspected cause
- Switched-on gutter heater combined with unusually hot summer weather
- Fire response
- About 200 firefighters
- Damage
- Major damage to the gym and assembly hall