Emergency services responded to a fire alarm at Sønderholm District Heating Plant on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred at the facility located on Vestervej in Sønderholm, Northern Jutland.
Fire crews arrived with four emergency vehicles and nine firefighters. They received the alarm at 5:32 PM and had the situation under control within thirty minutes.
Incident commander Henrik Christensen explained the fire started in connection with a solid fuel boiler. Ashes from the boiler had been emptied into a plastic container, which then ignited. The incident produced substantial smoke but remained contained.
The affected section of the building suffered both smoke and soot damage. This area housed both the solid fuel boiler and the burning plastic container.
District heating customers experienced no service interruptions despite the fire. The plant immediately switched to its backup gas boiler system. This quick transition ensured continuous heat supply to all approximately 300 connected households.
The Sønderholm facility began operations in 1991 and serves the local community with renewable heating. District heating systems like this one represent Denmark's commitment to sustainable energy infrastructure. They form the backbone of many Nordic communities' heating solutions, particularly in smaller towns.
This incident highlights the importance of backup systems in critical infrastructure. The seamless transition to alternative fuel sources prevented what could have been a major disruption for residents. Northern Jutland's emergency response demonstrated typical Nordic efficiency in handling industrial incidents.
Local authorities will likely conduct a full investigation into the ash handling procedures. Such reviews are standard practice following industrial fires across Denmark. The country maintains strict safety protocols for energy facilities of all sizes.
For international readers, it's worth noting that district heating dominates Scandinavian countries. These centralized systems provide heating to multiple buildings from a single plant. They represent a key component of the region's climate policies and energy security strategies.
The plant's ability to maintain operations during an emergency reflects Denmark's robust energy infrastructure planning. Most facilities maintain multiple fuel sources precisely for scenarios like this Sunday's fire.