Wacken Festival Fans Escape Blaze During Return Journey

Wapelfeld (Schleswig-Holstein) - A dramatic incident unfolded for two metal music enthusiasts returning home from the renowned Wacken Open Air festival when their pickup truck unexpectedly caught fire. The vehicle ignited on the B430 highway near Wapelfeld in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district around 9:35 AM on Sunday morning, likely due to a technical malfunction.

The fire rapidly consumed the pickup, a Ram 1500, and slightly damaged the attached caravan. Fortunately, the two occupants managed to escape the vehicle just in time after noticing the flames. In their frantic attempt to retrieve personal belongings, their clothes caught fire. To extinguish the flames on their clothing, the fans rolled in a grassy area nearby, successfully putting out the fire and sustaining only minor injuries.

Emergency services from Wapelfeld, Osterstedt, and Hohenwestedt responded promptly to the scene. The situation was complicated by the fact that the vehicle was a bivalent model, running on both gas and gasoline, making firefighting efforts more challenging. The aftermath of the fire left the Ram 1500 completely destroyed, and the total damage has been estimated at around EUR100,000.

The driver was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment. The vehicle and trailer were subsequently towed from the scene. The highway remained closed for approximately three hours, with traffic resuming at around 12:45 PM.

This incident marked the only significant disruption during what is typically a congested return journey from the Wacken Open Air festival. Despite the usual delays as attendees exit the festival grounds, this year saw relatively few major traffic issues. A police spokesperson noted that while there were minor inconveniences, there were no substantial traffic jams reported.