Kiosk on the Josefwiese at Brand badly damaged

This smell of smoking is most clearly. It is the first thing that perceives the many neighborhood residents who came to the Josefwiese this Friday morning. Only then does their view of the fire engines, the red-white barrier tapes and the burned roof frame.

The Josefwiese is a popular park in the densely populated Zurich city district 5. Located between the Lettenviaduct and cooperative, the facility serves as a lawn, play and Pétanque-Platz. And she has a well-attended refreshing kiosk, especially on summer days, which is led by the Josefwiese association with a lot of passion.

Now this kiosk has burned. The building consisting of wood shingles was badly damaged by the fire. The fire broke out early Friday morning at 4 a.m. The professional fire brigade deleted the flames, which also resulted in strong smoke development.

Since the post -extinguishing work dragged on, the militia fire brigade was also offered to support. According to the Zurich city police, nobody was injured.

Tobias Studer stands on the barrier tape and says: “We are shitty.” Studer is a resident and former president of the kiosk club, he lives just a few hundred meters away. He noticed the smell of smoke at night, he says. He thought someone was just grilling. Thanks to the chat groups of the neighborhood residents, there was quickly clarity: something bad happened.

Arson not excluded

Now the residents are puzzling what could have happened in the early morning. According to the city police, the cause of the fire is still unclear. On site, a city policeman says to the NZZ that you investigate in all directions. It could be a technical defect, but also arson.

Fathers with strollers, kindergarten classes or residents on the racing bike: On Friday morning, half the neighborhood wants to take an idea. As is so often the case with a fire, the onlookers are suddenly designated fire experts. So the message makes the round that the fire could only come from the outside because the kitchen was not damaged.

In the police communiqué on Friday there is nothing like that. A statement in it, however, makes you take notice: a crime cannot currently be excluded. The police are therefore looking for witnesses who made observations on Friday night. The evidence is carried out by fire investors from the Zurich cantonal police.

For the people in the neighborhood, the fire is “a shock”, as resident Tobias Studer says. The kiosk club would have wanted to carry out a football festival this weekend. A archway hangs sadly down, which has been set up especially for the festival. In addition, a firefighter scratches the last burned bricks from the roof with a rake.

It is already clear that the property damage amounts to several hundred thousand francs. The toilet facility and the kiosk cannot currently be entered. But at least the Josefwiese is released again. The fire brigade packs together around ten o’clock.

What’s next with the kiosk?

What remains is a sad roof rib. And a board on which handwritten congratulations are. The club celebrated its 30th birthday.

The question is all the more urgent on how to proceed with the kiosk. Especially since this was much more for the neighborhood than a place for food and drink. Nobody was talking about the NZZ on Friday morning on Friday morning.

Solidarity is great, says resident Tobias Studer. Residents asked what they could do. And one wish is already emerging: somehow it should continue on the Josefwiese. Maybe with a provisional, maybe with a container.

The Josefwiese kiosk was built in 1926 on behalf of the city architect Hermann Herter as “Milchhüsli”. There was cloakrooms with washing facilities, toilets and a sales stand for milk and other drinks. The goal was to operate a non -alcoholic garden.

The building consists of a hipped roof and a shingle facade. It was renovated in the 1970s.

The Josefwiese was opened in 1924 and was then on the outskirts of Zurich. The facility recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.