photo: Firefighters of the Olomouc Region (HZS)/Fighting burning tankers with benzene in Hustopeče
Debate erupts over the firefighting response to the benzene tanker fire in the Czech Republic, amid claims of severe ecological damage and poor crisis management.
A major environmental incident near the town of Hustopeče nad Bečvou in the Czech Republic is drawing intense investigation across Europe. Following the derailment and fire of a freight train carrying benzene, questions are being raised over whether Czech emergency responders used appropriate firefighting methods to contain the chemical blaze. Some experts now fear that the ecological fallout could rival or surpass previous European chemical disasters.
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The accident occurred on Friday, 28 February, near the local railway station. In a public briefing days later, Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladík declared the event as "the largest benzene spill in world history." He announced that the immediate danger had passed after all tankers were removed, and the incident had now entered the second phase—the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. According to Hladík, this process could take years and cost hundreds of millions of Czech crowns, potentially placing it among the most expensive environmental clean-ups in the country’s history.
Firefighting Strategy Sparks Controversy Among Experts and Public
While authorities managed to contain the initial blaze, the method of extinguishing the fire has ignited widespread debate. In particular, the use of water as a primary suppressant has come under criticism from both professional and volunteer firefighters, many of whom argue it may have worsened environmental damage by allowing toxic runoff to penetrate the soil. One commenter, Lukáš Györ, a volunteer firefighter for over 15 years, wrote under a news article on iDnes.cz: "This should have been left to burn out. If they pour water on it, it seeps into the soil and poisons the surrounding area. I hope the firefighters were trained on this, otherwise they caused more harm than good."
It was confirmed by chemical fire specialists consulted by RAILTARGET, too. Speaking anonymously, all experts voiced concern that water, while a commonly used medium, is unsuitable for benzene fires due to the risk of chemical absorption into the ground. Such practices can lead to far-reaching ecological consequences, especially when conducted near railway beds, where soil permeability is high and toxic leakage is difficult to contain.
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Why Water Was Used – And the Risks Involved
Despite the criticism, authorities defended the decision to use water in the suppression effort. In scenarios involving BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion), water is often used to cool containers to prevent explosions. BLEVE incidents can lead to fireballs, thermal radiation, and devastating pressure waves—threats that emergency teams aim to avoid at all costs.
According to the official guidelines of the Czech Fire Rescue Service (HZS), water is justified for cooling operations, not just for direct extinguishing. However, the uncontrolled spread of extinguishing water—especially when dropped by helicopters equipped with bambi buckets—raises concerns about precision and environmental containment. Experts argue that aerial firefighting is not accurate enough for chemical fires and can increase the risk of contamination. Although helicopters play a supplementary role in cooling the surroundings, videos published by the Czech Police and regional fire services suggest that direct extinguishing of burning benzene did occur, contradicting statements from some officials that the fire was mostly allowed to burn out naturally.
Expert Concerns: Cost-Cutting and Crisis Leadership
In a podcast interview with Požáry.cz, Miloš Němec, Deputy Director of Fire Operations for Czech Railways’ infrastructure manager, acknowledged the immense pressure on commanders during such unprecedented incidents. Decision-making in these moments, he said, involves balancing human safety, environmental protection, and operational costs.
However, experts suggest that economic factors may have influenced the response. Firefighting foam, which is more effective for chemical fires like this, is significantly more expensive than water. As a result, some fire departments hesitate to use it due to budgetary constraints. One specialist noted: "The savings from using water instead of foam are insignificant compared to the multimillion-euro costs of environmental damage."
This raises broader questions about systemic priorities in firefighting protocols. As environmental responsibility does not typically fall within the direct remit of incident commanders, ecological damage often receives less consideration during live operations.
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Minister’s Silence on Suppression Method Fuels Criticism
Further criticism was directed at Environment Minister Hladík, who stated in an exclusive interview with RAILTARGET that the crisis task force never discussed the specific firefighting methods used on the burning benzene tankers. This omission has deepened public mistrust, particularly given the long-term implications for local ecosystems and water sources.
The incident brought back memories of the 1986 Sandoz chemical fire in Switzerland, one of Europe’s worst ecological disasters. In that case, firefighting water contaminated with pesticides flowed into the Rhine River, decimating fish populations and causing the near-extinction of European eels in the region. Critics now fear that Hustopeče could be facing a similarly devastating outcome, especially as benzene-laced water reportedly seeped into a utility well in a nearby recreational area. Given that the Bečva River lies just a few dozen metres from the contamination site, the potential for large-scale waterway pollution is high.
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