Major fire at the BRT warehouse in Milan
A number of lorries and vans were also involved. The local council has advised residents in the area to keep their windows closed and avoid staying outdoors.
Operations are under way to extinguish the fire that has engulfed a Bartolini warehouse in the Bovisa area of Milan. Fire crews are working to put out the remaining hotspots and secure the area. The massive plume of smoke is also subsiding. Around 50 firefighters from the Milan and Monza fire brigades are on site with several heavy-duty vehicles. The provincial commander of the Milan fire brigade, Mauro Caciolai, has also arrived at the scene.
The fire broke out inside a BRT warehouse in Milan at 10 Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, in the Bovisa area. The tall column of black smoke rising from the building can be seen from kilometres away. Loud explosions were heard. Flames are shooting out of the large side windows, which run the entire length of the warehouse. “I saw the flames from a distance and called the emergency services. I also work at a nearby company in the delivery sector,” says a worker standing in front of the blaze.
Around 50 firefighters are on the scene, including some from the Milan and Monza fire stations, with six fire engines, four water tankers, three ladder lorries, an air supply vehicle, the SAPR unit and a vehicle with a basket for working at height.
Several lorries and vans parked in the loading and unloading areas are ablaze in the depot’s courtyard. The office block has not yet been affected by the fire, whilst the total area affected is approximately 8,000 square metres. Rescue operations are proving very complex, with five teams working to contain the flames. The local police have closed the roads in the area. At present, there is no confirmation as to whether anyone is inside the warehouse.
In the Bovisa neighbourhood, “there are very high plumes of smoke and a very strong smell,” says a local resident. “It’s been over an hour now, and the situation has improved slightly.”
