Warehouse fire in Poland sparks national debate over lithium battery safety
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TARNOWO PODGÓRNE, Poland — Jan. 11, 2026 — A large fire broke out at a DB Schenker logistics facility near Poznań, prompting a significant response from local fire brigades and drawing national media attention, according to multiple Polish news outlets.
The incident has reportedly has become Poland’s most widely discussed fire‑and‑rescue incident of early 2026, triggering nationwide scrutiny of warehouse safety, lithium‑ion battery storage, and supply‑chain resilience.
The blaze occurred in a warehouse located in the industrial zone of Tarnowo Podgórne, west of Poznań. Polish media reported that the fire produced a substantial column of smoke visible from surrounding districts, and emergency services urged residents to avoid the area while firefighters worked to contain the flames.
Firefighting Operations
Local fire brigades battled the blaze for hours as hazardous‑materials teams monitored air quality. No fatalities were reported, but the scale of the incident and the hazardous smoke has been described as one of the most disruptive industrial fires in recent years.
According to TVP World, nearly 200 firefighters were deployed and more than 40 fire trucks working for over four hours to bring the inferno under control. No fatalities were reported, and authorities did not immediately release information about injuries.
Polish media outlets described the fire as affecting a large section of the warehouse, though exact measurements of the burned area were not confirmed in official statements at the time of reporting.
Local authorities reported that the fire produced high‑toxicity combustion products, prompting environmental monitoring and temporary road closures. Polish fire‑service officials told TVN24 that the burning of plastics, packaging materials, and battery components created “a complex chemical environment” requiring extended containment operations.
DB Schenker confirmed that the affected facility handled logistics operations for the region. Polish logistics media noted that the fire caused temporary disruption to shipments routed through the Tarnowo Podgórne hub. The company stated that it was working to reroute deliveries and assess the extent of the damage.
Cause Under Investigation
Authorities did not release any information regarding the cause of the fire. Polish media reported that investigators were expected to examine the site once it was safe to enter, but no early indications or hypotheses were provided by officials.
Further Reading:
https://tvpworld.com/91015639/warehouse-fire-near-poznan-caused-by-faulty-e-sco…?
https://innpoland.pl/219055,pozar-hali-magazynowej-db-schenker-pod-poznaniem-cios-dla-calej-branzy